1
general::
Phrase(s): weigh someone or something down
to burden someone or something. • The heavy burden weighed the poor donkey down. • The load of bricks weighed down the truck., Phrase(s): weigh someone down
Fig. [for a thought] to worry or depress someone. • All these problems really weigh me down. • Financial problems have been weighing down our entire family.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
Burden, oppress, as in Their problems have weighed them down. This expression transfers bowing under a physical weight to emotional burdens. [c. 1600]
American Heritage Idioms