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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Pull your weight

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To do your fair share of the work in a group.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. Everyone needs to pull their weight during the group assignment.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

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Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To do your fair share of the work in a group.
Show the answer

Pull your weight — To do your fair share of the work in a group.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Pull your weight” about your own life.

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Does your sentence match this meaning?

To do your fair share of the work in a group.

Compare: Everyone needs to pull their weight during the group assignment.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use this conversational expression when discussing shared responsibilities. Telling someone they are not pulling their weight can sound critical, so name the specific work that needs doing.

More examples in context

  • I want to pull my weight, so I will handle the booking and the guest list.
  • The volunteers all pulled their weight and finished the setup on time.

Usage note

Match the possessive to the person: pull my weight, pull her weight or pull their weight. The idiom concerns contribution, not physical size. A fair share need not mean identical tasks for everyone.

A short conversation

A: How can I help with the event?
B: Could you organise the name badges?
A: Certainly. I want to pull my weight.

One more practice question

Who is pulling their weight?

A. A group member completes their agreed share of the work.
B. A group member leaves all their agreed tasks to others.

Check your answer

A. Completing a fair share contributes to the group. Leaving those tasks to others does not fit.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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