Which amongst the following option uses the correct phrasal verb ?
(A) The sand in his shoes weighed him in.
(B) The sand in his shoes weighed him out.
(C) The sand in his shoes weighed him down.
(D) The sand in his shoes weighed him up.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (C) Only
A phrasal verb is a verb joined with a small word such as up, out or together. The two words together have a new meaning.
To weigh someone down means to make someone feel heavy and slow, or to burden someone with worry. The sand in his shoes made him heavy and slowed him down.
(A) The sand in his shoes weighed him in. — Incorrect.
- To weigh in means to be weighed before a contest (as a boxer is), or to join a discussion with one's opinion.
Example: Many experts weighed in on the debate about exams.
(B) The sand in his shoes weighed him out. — Incorrect.
- To weigh out means to measure a quantity by weight.
- It is used for goods, not a person.
Example: The shopkeeper weighed out two kilos of rice.
(C) The sand in his shoes weighed him down. — Correct.
- The sand made him heavy and slowed him.
Example: The heavy schoolbag weighed the child down.
(D) The sand in his shoes weighed him up. — Incorrect.
- To weigh someone up means to judge someone's character by watching him.
- Sand cannot do that.
Example: The interviewer weighed each candidate up carefully.