Simple and complete answers to 12 questions that we have all asked ourselves many times

You may know that the term “dead weight” is used as an idiom, and if someone calls you “dead weight,” then you know it’s not a compliment. As an idiom, the meaning of “dead weight” is someone who is a burden that prevents progress or makes it difficult for others to enjoy or benefit from certain things. But why do we use the term “dead weight”? Outside of idioms, the term “deadweight” is used in ship cargo to measure the weight a ship carries, not including the weight of the ship itself. However, “dead weight” can literally refer to anything being carried that isn’t alive – and yes, that also includes human and animal corpses. We use “dead weight” in these contexts because many find that it is heavier to carry dead weight than “non-dead” weight. Why is that? To answer, we need to explain basic physics.

July 12, 2022 | 8:09 pm