verb phrase · academic

carry the burden

UK/ˌkæri ðə ˈbɜːdən/US/ˌkæri ðə ˈbɜrdn/CAR·ry·the·BUR·den

task2speaking

to bear responsibility or suffer the consequences for something

Examples

Families often carry the burden of care for elderly relatives.

If the state reduces spending, low‑income households may carry the burden.

The company carried the burden of the recall alone.

Band 8 sentence

Although the policy aimed to help the community, ultimately low‑income families carried the burden of its unintended consequences.

Collocations

  • carry the burden of proof
  • carry the burden for families

Word family

carry verbcarry the burden verb phrasecarry the burden of verb phrase + preposition

Common mistakes

They carry the burden to poor families.The poor families carry the burden.

He carry the burden.He carries the burden.

Say it for a higher band

5bear6shoulder the responsibility7+carry the burden

Synonyms

bear the burden

shoulder the responsibility

Easily confused

shoulder the responsibility

After the scandal, the director had to shoulder the responsibility and resign.

Related words

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In carry …

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