Weigh on one's conscience ⚖️🧠

Meaning

To cause someone to feel guilty or troubled about something they have done or failed to do.

Origin

Imagine a heavy stone inside your chest, pressing down, making it hard to breathe or think clearly. That's the visceral image behind 'weigh on one's conscience'. The idea of moral burdens feeling like a physical weight is ancient, stemming from early philosophical thoughts where guilt was perceived as a tangible force distorting one's inner peace. Over centuries, this metaphorical weight solidified into the phrase, capturing that persistent, grinding discomfort that unresolved guilt inflicts, like an invisible anchor dragging you down.

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Weigh on one's conscience represented with emoji⚖️🧠

This playful juxtaposition of a balanced scale and a brain "weighs on one's conscience" not just visually, but conceptually. It functions as a charming reminder that our thoughts and decisions carry weight, inviting us to consider the mental and emotional burden of our choices. Observe how the simple symbols teach the viewer about the profound impact of our inner deliberations.

Examples

  • His dishonesty at work began to weigh on his conscience.
  • The missed opportunity to help her neighbor really weighed on her conscience.
  • The thought of all those unread library books was starting to weigh on the wizard's conscience.
  • Forgetting to water the pet rock really weighed on the forgetful knight's conscience.

Frequently asked questions

Is 'weigh on one's conscience' a common English idiom?

Yes, 'weigh on one's conscience' is a very common and widely understood idiom in English. It vividly describes the feeling of guilt or burden that lingers after doing something wrong or failing to act.

What's the opposite of 'weigh on one's conscience'?

The opposite of 'weigh on one's conscience' could be described as having a 'clear conscience' or 'sleeping soundly at night.' These phrases indicate a state of freedom from guilt and mental distress.

Can 'weigh on one's conscience' refer to things you *didn't* do?

Absolutely, the phrase applies to both actions taken and actions omitted. Guilt can arise from something you did, or from a failure to act when you felt you should have, which then 'weighs on your conscience'.

Did a specific person coin the phrase 'weigh on one's conscience'?

No single person is credited with coining 'weigh on one's conscience'; it evolved over time. The concept of guilt as a heavy burden is ancient, appearing in various forms across different cultures and literature long before the precise wording became standard.

Similar to "weigh on one's conscience"

Have a / the guilty conscience
Both point to an internal feeling of wrongdoing, but 'guilty conscience' puts the blame squarely on the feeling itself, whereas 'weigh on one's conscience' emphasizes the burden or pressure that guilt creates
Be haunted by one's actions
Both phrases speak to the persistent mental distress caused by past deeds, but 'haunted' suggests a more vivid, intrusive, and almost spectral torment, while 'weigh on' implies a duller, more oppressive accumulation of regret
Carry the burden of guilt
Both describe the heavy emotional load of wrongdoing, but 'carry the burden' implies a more active, sustained, and conscious effort to bear the load, while 'weigh on' focuses on the passive, oppressive feeling imposed by the guilt

Opposite of "weigh on one's conscience"

Have a clear conscience
This phrase champions freedom from guilt. It argues that the absence of any inner turmoil about one's actions is the ideal state, directly contrasting with the oppressive feeling described by 'weigh on one's conscience'
Let bygones be bygones
This argues for moving past past mistakes without lingering regret. It directly opposes the idea that past actions should continue to trouble us, suggesting instead a pragmatic approach to leaving such matters behind
Sleep soundly at night
This phrase highlights the peace and tranquility that comes from having no reason to feel guilty. The tension here is that while 'weigh on one's conscience' disturbs sleep, this phrase suggests profound peace is the reward for a life unburdened by remorse

Related to "weigh on one's conscience"

Prick of conscience
This shares the idea of an inner moral check, but the 'prick' is a sharp, sudden jolt of awareness, unlike the sustained pressure of something that 'weighs on' you
A nagging doubt
This phrase orbits 'weigh on one's conscience' by describing a persistent, bothersome feeling, though it typically relates to uncertainty or a suspicion rather than a definite wrongdoing
The weight of the world
This shares the metaphor of 'weight' implying a heavy burden, but it broadens the scope from personal guilt to encompass all of life's overwhelming troubles and responsibilities
A guilty pleasure
This phrase touches on the idea of guilt, but in a lighter, almost playful way, referring to enjoyment that might be considered improper or excessive, rather than the serious distress of something that 'weighs on one's conscience'