Collocations for "heavy"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "heavy" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
heavy
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- a heavy [man, woman, person, boy]
- a heavy [gambler, drinker, smoker, eater]
- heavy [snow, rain, rainfall, fog, seas, atmosphere]
- a heavy [load, box, suitcase, weight]
- [eat, after] a heavy meal
- heavy [drinking, smoking]
- of heavy build
- (at) a heavy [cost, price, loss]
- heavy [sobbing, snoring, breathing]
- heavy [activity, fighting, casualties, shelling]
- a heavy [tank, armored, infantry, vehicle]
- operate heavy machinery
- is carrying a heavy burden
- the [work, responsibility, child] was a heavy burden
- [is, has] a heavy cross to bear
- deals with heavy [themes, issues]
- a heavy [setback, blow] to their [mission, plans, hopes]
- heavy [dose, use, consumption, intake] of
- [lead, mercury, iron] is a heavy metal
- heavy metal [groups, bands, festivals, music]
- heavy activity at the [mall, market, store]
- UK: is making heavy weather of [it, this]
- is (rather) heavy going
- heavy reading
- is a heavy [book, theme, concept]
- [spoke, played, carried on] with a heavy heart
- was too heavy to [carry, lift]
- was too heavy for him
- the [nightclub, mobster's, president's] heavies
- (threatened to) set his heavies on them
- the heavies [on the door, at the entrance]
- the heavies [pushed him back, tackled him]
- the heavies stood in her way
- is protected by heavies
- was pushed back by the heavies
- [denied, refused] entry by the heavies
'heavy' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
anchor
- application
- armor
- backpack
- batter
- body
- book
- breathe
- buffet
- bulk
- bulky
- burden
- cardboard
- carry
- carry-on
- casualty
- clump
- cost
- crate
- cream
- cumbersome
- deal
- delay
- dense
- dew
- dose
- downfall
- drain
- drape
- dust
- duty
- effect
- embroidery
- emphasis
- enemy
- enough
- exact
- flesh
- float
- flow
- flurry
- fog
- frost
- half
- he
- hump
- image
- iron
- lid
- lift