weight of the world en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
An allusion to the burden borne by Atlas, the mythical Titan who carried the entire world on his shoulders.
Meanings
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(idiomatic) The distressing combined burden of the problems, doubts, imperfections, and responsibilities associated with human existence.
"When I arrived at Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. . . . I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me."
2009 February 10, Tyler Kepner, “Baseball: Rodriguez admits past substance use”, in New York Times, retrieved 03 May 2014:There was only one thing to be done, return to the hotel, retrieve his money, and try to forget the weight of the world and its cares in lunch.
1919, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 2, in A Damsel in Distress:I tried carrying the weight of the world / But I only have two hands
2013, Avicii, Wake Me Up:With its trade deficits with Asia ballooning and U.S. consumers carrying the weight of the world on their credit cards, Washington felt it was about time somebody else did some importing.
1999, Frank Pellegrini, “The Kindest Rate Cut”, in Time, retrieved 03 May 2014:The weight of the world is off my mind since I have told you every thing.
1877, R. D. Blackmore, chapter 52, in Erema: My Father's Sin:
Relateds
Translations (2)
pl but see dźwigać na barkach (Translations) · tr dünyanın yükü (Translations)