Heavy lifting isn’t about the gym. Learn this expression here. (Image: Getty) TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240610 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ News Review ✔️ Office English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.
Hello.
Welcome to the English we speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent english speakers, so you can use them, too.
I'm fei fei, and I'm here with Neil.
Hello, fei fei.
How are you?
I'm a bit tired at the moment.
Actually, most of the team are either on holiday or off sick, so I feel like I'm doing a lot of the heavy lifting.
Oh, no.
That sounds hard.
You use the expression heavy lifting, and that is what we're going to look at today, what it means and how to use it.
So, Fei Fei, you said you're doing a lot of the heavy lifting at work, but you're not actually lifting weights in the office, are you?
Your job doesn't require you to build up your physical fitness.
No, I wasn't actually lifting weights.
The phrase does have a literal meaning, and some jobs do require actual heavy lifting.
For example, jobs in construction, if you're a builder, maybe, and sometimes as delivery drivers.
But the way I used it just means that I'm doing most of the work at the moment.
Well, I hope you're remembering to look after yourself, Fei Fei.
That's important.
So you're not carrying a physical load, but maybe we can say you're carrying a mental load.
That's right.