lighten the load

Meanings

1. 1phraseidiom

   to make a difficult job, duty, or worry easier for someone to deal with

   Grammar: Used as a verb phrase; often followed by 'for someone' or 'on someone'.

   Patterns

   • lighten the load for someone
   • lighten someone's load
   • lighten the load on someone

   If you take the evening shift, you'll really lighten the load for your mother.

   A few kind words can lighten the load when someone is grieving.

   The new software was supposed to lighten the load on the accounting team.

2. 2phraseidiom

   to make something physically less heavy to carry

   Grammar: Used literally about objects; the subject is usually a person or a removal of items.

   Patterns

   • lighten the load by doing something
   • lighten the load of something

   We lightened the load by leaving the tent behind.

   Removing the back seats lightened the load on the small plane.

Common combinations

help lighten the load

Could you help lighten the load by carrying one of these boxes?

lighten the load for someone

Her new assistant has lightened the load for her considerably.

a way to lighten the load

Sharing the chores is a simple way to lighten the load.

lighten the load on the system

The upgrades should lighten the load on the city's water system.

Synonyms and how they differ

ease the burden

More formal and slightly more serious; often used about financial or emotional pressure.

take a weight off someone's shoulders

Stronger and more dramatic; it suggests removing a worry completely, not just making it easier.

Opposites

Word family

lighten verb

To make something lighter or less serious.

load noun

Something heavy that is carried, or a burden of work or worry.

Commonly confused: lighten the load or lighten up?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “lighten the load”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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