Definition
to rest after a period of hard work
Examples
1) After a long day at work, she decided to take a load off and unwind in a
hammock.
2) When someone offered to carry her heavy bags, she felt relieved and gladly
let him help her take a load off.
Etymology
The term is likely derived from the idea of unburdening oneself from physical
or mental strain, with "load" referring to a heavy burden or responsibility.
Synonyms
loosen up, chill out, kick back
- englishdaily626.com [edited]
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[For a long time, I have confused the phrase with "take a load of." But the
latter was not even in the dictionary!]
Sudden changes can be dangerous and big load should be taken off piecemeal.
Many a laborer retired from the fields, kept having three square meals a day,
and in a few years succombed to affluent diseases. In Shawshank Redemption,
after released, some ex-cons break the law just to get back to prison and some
kill themselves failing to live free.
