What it means
Tells someone to do their fair share instead of letting everyone else do the heavy lifting. You’ll hear it at work, in group projects, in house shares, anywhere people are meant to muck in. Pulling your weight means you’re reliable and getting stuck in. Not pulling it means you’re dead weight and everyone notices fast. It’s a polite warning shot.
Usage examples
"If Dan doesn’t start pulling his weight on this job, I’m telling the gaffer. Bloke’s done one email and three tea runs, and he’s still knackered."
"If everyone pulls their weight we'll have the place tidy by noon, so no hiding in the kitchen, Gary."
"She never pulls her weight on group projects, then acts surprised when nobody wants her in their team."
Where it comes from
Comes from rowing, where every crew member has to pull hard enough on the oar to move their own share of the boat. A rower who slacks drags the whole crew, so off the water it became the line for anyone not doing their fair share.
Other ways to say it
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