The idiom "shoulder a weight off your shoulders" means to relieve yourself of a burden or a problem that has been bothering you for a long time. It is used to describe a situation where you have been carrying a heavy load, either physical or emotional, and you finally find a way to get rid of it.
For example, imagine you have been struggling with a difficult project at work for weeks, and you finally finish it successfully. You can say "I feel like I've shouldered a weight off my shoulders now that the project is done." This means that you feel relieved and free from the stress and pressure that the project was causing you.
Another example could be when you have been keeping a secret from someone for a long time, and you finally tell them the truth. You can say "I feel like I've shouldered a weight off my shoulders now that I've told you the truth." This means that you feel relieved and free from the guilt and anxiety that the secret was causing you.
In summary, the idiom "shoulder a weight off your shoulders" is used to describe a situation where you have been carrying a heavy burden or problem, and you finally find a way to get rid of it, resulting in a feeling of relief and freedom.
• After talking to my friend about my problems, I felt like I had shouldered a weight off my shoulders.
• He decided to shoulder a weight off his shoulders and confess his love to her.
• It was such a relief to shoulder a weight off my shoulders and finish my homework early.
• She felt like she had shouldered a weight off her shoulders after quitting her job that she hated.
• The CEO had to shoulder a weight off his shoulders and make the tough decision to lay off some employees due to financial difficulties.
• After years of hiding her true identity, she finally came out to her family and friends, shouldering a weight off her shoulders that she had been carrying for so long.