take a load off someone's mind
Meaning: To relieve someone of a worry.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Hearing that the test results were normal took a load off my mind.”
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Worry is pictured as a heavy burden carried in the mind. The phrase is found from the 19th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- French: Ôter une épine du pied à quelqu'un — literally: To take a thorn out of someone's foot
More idioms — Body & Senses
- hand in hand — Closely together; in close association.
- kicking and screaming — Very reluctantly, protesting all the way.
- lie through one's teeth — To lie openly and shamelessly.
- put one's feet up — To relax and rest.
- fall into someone's lap — To come to someone without any effort.
- fire in the belly — Strong ambition and drive.
More English idioms
- a bottomless pit — Something that uses up endless money or effort; also a person who is always hungry.
- in the middle of nowhere — In a very remote place, far from towns.
- out of thin air — Appearing from nowhere, as if by magic.
- be at a low ebb — To be in a poor or weak state.
- sit on the fence — To avoid taking sides.
- take an ax to — To cut something drastically, especially spending or jobs.