deadweights
Heavy, unhelpful cargo
Deadweights are things or people that impede progress without contributing value.
The term comes from the literal sense of inert weight—cargo or mass that adds burden without providing useful force.
A ship's deadweight is its carrying capacity.
In figurative use, deadweights are unproductive team members, useless obligations, or anything dragging down an enterprise: We need to cut the deadweights from this project.
Grain-crushing circular stone
- albatrossLong-winged oceanic bird
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
- obstacleSomething blocking the way
impediment · hindrance · handicap · onus · yoke · drag · baggage · anchor
Failing to achieve results
- sluggishSlow and inactive
- passengersTransported travelers
- freeloadersPeople exploiting others' generosity
- slackersThose who avoid effort
laggards · hangers-on · parasites · redundancy · wastefulness · inertia · stagnation · underperformers
millstone
Grain-crushing circular stone
- albatrossLong-winged oceanic bird
- encumbranceHindrance or legal claim
- liabilityLegal or financial obligation
obstacle · impediment · hindrance · handicap · onus · yoke · drag · baggage · anchor · load
unproductive
Failing to achieve results
- sluggishSlow and inactive
- passengersTransported travelers
- freeloadersPeople exploiting others' generosity
slackers · laggards · hangers-on · parasites · redundancy · wastefulness · inertia · stagnation · underperformers · bureaucracy
ballast
Ship stability material
stability · counterbalance · trim · buoyancy · displacement · waterline · cargo · tonnage · vessel · ship
deadweightsassets
Owned items of value
contributors · producers · earners · profit centers · breadwinners
deadweightsdynamos
Extremely vigorous people
movers and shakers · doers · engines · catalysts · workhorses