deadweight

[/ˈdɛdweɪt/]
nounpl: deadweights
peso morto
1. The weight of a ship or vehicle without cargo, passengers, or fuel; the unloaded weight
The deadweight of the cargo ship is 5,000 tons.
O peso morto do cargueiro é de 5.000 toneladas.
2. A heavy, inert mass or burden that is difficult to move or remove
The old furniture was just deadweight that nobody wanted to move.
O móvel antigo era apenas peso morto que ninguém queria mover.
3. A person or thing that is useless, burdensome, or a drag on progress
He felt like a deadweight on the team because he wasn't contributing.
Ele se sentia como um peso morto no time porque não estava contribuindo.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'peso morto' is primarily used in maritime and transportation contexts, borrowed from English nautical terminology. In American English, the term has expanded metaphorically to describe people or situations that are unproductive or burdensome, particularly in workplace or team contexts. The term carries a slightly negative connotation when applied to people.
NYC Slang
dead weight; also used as 'dead weight' to describe someone unreliable or lazy
Synonyms / Sinônimos
burdendead loadencumbranceimpedimentliability
Antonyms / Antônimos
assetadvantagebenefitcargopayload

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
peso morto
Standard term used in shipping and general contexts
Rio de Janeiro
peso morto
Same as general Brazilian usage
São Paulo
peso morto
Same as general Brazilian usage; also used in maritime commerce
Portugal
peso morto
European Portuguese uses the same term, though less commonly in everyday speech

Related Words

deadweight tonnage (DWT)cargoballasttare weightnet weight

Related Idioms & Phrases

carry someone like deadweight
drag someone down like deadweight
dead weight around someone's neck
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