pulls one's own weight
Carries fair load
To pull one's own weight is to contribute fairly to a shared effort—doing your part without relying on others to carry you.
The image comes from draft animals or rowers, where each must exert enough force to move their share of the load: She's new but she pulls her own weight.
Someone who doesn't pull their weight forces others to compensate.
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- diligenceCareful, persistent effort
- self-supportingAble to maintain oneself
- cooperationJoint action toward shared aims
- self-relianceDepending on oneself alone
obligation · industriousness · hard work · work ethic · autonomy · fairness · perseverance · pull together · chip in · equity · duty · partnership · shared goals · fair share · conscientiousness · resourcefulness · dependability · coordination
pulls one's own weightfreeloads
Takes without reciprocating
dead weight · slacks off · free rides · loafs · coasts
pulls one's own weightmooches
Habitually seeks handouts
leeches · takes advantage · hangs on · clings
pulls, pulled, pulling, puller, owning, owners, ownership, weight, weights