weigh up
carefully think about the good and bad points before deciding
What does "weigh sth up" mean?
Examples
- We need to weigh up all the options before we commit to anything.
- She weighed the risks up carefully and decided not to invest.
- Have you weighed up the pros and cons of moving abroad?
How to use it
The most common structure, used when the object is a longer noun phrase such as 'the options', 'the risks', or 'all the evidence'.
Before signing the contract, she took a week to weigh up all the potential consequences.
With short noun objects, separation is very natural and common, especially in spoken English.
We should weigh the pros and cons up before we make any commitments.
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between the verb and the particle — never after 'up'.
There are several options on the table — let's weigh them up and decide by Friday.
Used when the object is a clause introduced by 'whether', 'what', or 'how'. The clause always follows 'up' unseparated.
He spent the evening weighing up whether to accept the promotion or stay in his current role.
Modal verbs expressing necessity are extremely natural with this phrasal verb, reflecting the idea that careful deliberation is required.
You really need to weigh up the financial risks before investing such a large amount.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun, it must come between 'weigh' and 'up'. Placing it after the particle is not correct in English.
'Weigh up' describes the active process of comparing options before a decision. 'Weigh on' describes an emotional burden — something that causes worry or stress. The two are not interchangeable.
'Weigh up' only means to consider options mentally. It has nothing to do with using scales or measuring the physical weight of something — use 'weigh out' for that meaning.
Usage
This phrasal verb is more common in British English than American English, where 'consider carefully' or simply 'weigh' is often preferred. It is neutral in register and perfectly natural in both formal writing and casual conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'weigh up' more British or American English?
'Weigh up' is predominantly British English. American English speakers tend to say 'consider carefully' or simply use 'weigh' without the particle — for example, 'We need to weigh our options.' If you're writing for an American audience, these alternatives may sound more natural.
Can 'weigh up' be used without mentioning what you're weighing up?
Yes, when the options or factors being considered are already clear from context, you can drop the object entirely. For example, 'It's a big decision — I need more time to weigh up' is natural in conversation. The listener understands what is being weighed up from what has already been said.
Can 'weigh up' be used in the passive?
Yes, the passive is grammatically possible and does appear in written English, especially in formal or journalistic contexts where the decision-maker is not specified. For example: 'All the alternatives were carefully weighed up before a final recommendation was made.' That said, the active form is much more common in everyday use.
What kinds of things can you 'weigh up'?
The object is almost always something relevant to a decision — options, risks, costs, benefits, consequences, evidence, factors, or alternatives. A very common fixed phrase is 'weigh up the pros and cons'. Avoid using 'weigh up' when the object is a person you are assessing or judging — a different phrasal verb ('size up') covers that meaning.
Does 'weigh up' suggest that a decision has already been made?
No — 'weigh up' describes the process of deliberation that happens before a decision, not the decision itself. It implies you are still in the thinking stage, comparing different factors. You might say 'I'm still weighing it up' to signal that you haven't reached a conclusion yet.
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