heavy lifting

American  

[hev-ee lif-ting] / ˈhɛv i ˈlɪf tɪŋ /

noun

Informal.

1. hard work.

   A team of researchers did the heavy lifting for the author.

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Etymology

Origin of heavy lifting

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

They added that survey data showed that teenagers who considered themselves sneakerheads — who do a lot of the heavy lifting in setting trends —had been buying fewer pairs since 2019, even among wealthier shoppers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

When it comes to smog, let’s not congratulate ourselves too much; it was technology that did the heavy lifting, not demanding much in the way of sacrifice or even change in our behavior.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

But the key is the free energy you obtain by letting heat from the air outside do much of the heavy lifting in boiling the refrigerant when it is cold.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

Freeze citrus peels, berries, fresh herbs or edible flowers into ice cubes and let them do the heavy lifting.

From Salon • Feb. 3, 2026

“What’s the matter, Roycroft? Is heavy lifting beneath your pay grade?”

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman