Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromichi]

What does this "lift" mean?

In the space of a few months, the delegates did the heavy
lifting of setting up a new U.S. government--outlining the
checks and balances between the branches of government,
setting up a bicameral legislature, and establishing
departments in the executive branch to handle foreign
affairs, defense, and the treasury.
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Hiromichi

[CP]

Doing the heavy lifting means doing the hardest work. Imagine a group of people moving furniture from a house or office. Lamps and candlesticks are light and easy to carry. Desks and sofas are heavy. The people who move the heavy items are doing the heavy lifting. In this passage, setting up a new government was the hard work done by the delegates.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[hiromichi]

CP, Very clear explanation. I got it. Thank you.
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Hiromichi