Definition of heavy lifting

The phrase "heavy lifting" is often used in the context of demanding or challenging tasks that require considerable effort and resources. It originated in the world of engineering and heavy machinery, where it referred specifically to rigorous and physically demanding tasks related to moving heavy objects. In the early 20th century, the transportation and construction industries adopted heavy-duty machines to handle the movement of bulky and weighty materials. These machines required complex assembly and disassembly processes that involved significant manual labor. As such, the phrase "heavy lifting" emerged as a way to describe these arduous and heavy-duty tasks that required specialized equipment and extensive human effort. Over time, the phrase became popular in other industries and fields to describe challenging or difficult activities that require a considerable amount of resources and exertion.