burden to someone

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   A person or thing that causes worry, extra work or cost for another person.

   Grammar: Usually used with 'be', 'become' or 'feel like': 'She felt like a burden to her family.'

   Patterns

   • be a burden to someone
   • become a burden to someone
   • feel like a burden to someone

   After his accident, he worried that he had become a burden to his wife.

   Please don't think you are a burden to us; we are happy to help.

   The extra costs were a burden to the small business.

2. 2phraseidiom

   Something that makes life harder for a person or group, especially in a way that feels unfair.

   Grammar: Can refer to rules, taxes or duties as well as people: 'a burden to taxpayers'.

   Patterns

   • a burden to taxpayers
   • a burden to the community
   • place a burden on someone

   The new paperwork is a burden to teachers who already have too much to do.

   These fees are a heavy burden to families on low incomes.

Common combinations

be a burden to someone

He did not want to be a burden to his children.

become a burden to someone

The old car became a burden to its owner.

feel like a burden to someone

She felt like a burden to her friends.

a burden to society

Some politicians wrongly describe older people as a burden to society.

Synonyms and how they differ

drain

A 'drain on someone' suggests using up money, energy or resources, often more strongly than 'burden'.

weight

A 'weight on someone' is more emotional and suggests worry or sadness rather than practical work.

Opposites

Word family

burdensome adjective

Causing extra work or worry; formal.

burden noun

A heavy load or a difficult duty.

burden verb

To give someone a difficult duty or worry.

Commonly confused: burden to someone or burden on someone?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “burden to someone”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words