A Heavy Collocation

Some collocations with heavy

CERTAIN TYPES OF WEATHER You can talk about:
• a heavy snowfall / heavy snow
• a heavy frost
• heavy rain
• a heavy storm
• heavy (storm) clouds
(But probably not, for example, a heavy typhoon or a heavy hurricane). 

WORK SCHEDULES You can talk about:
• a heavy schedule
• a heavy workload
• heavy day at the office
EATING, SLEEPING, DRINKING, SMOKING You can be a...
• heavy eater
• heavy sleeper
• heavy drinker
• heavy smoker
You can also eat a heavy lunch and certain types of cakes and sweets can be very heavy. (Fruit cake, for example is very heavy - eat a lot and you'll probably feel sick). 

TOO MUCH OF SOMETHING We can talk about:
• heavy make-up
• heavy traffic
DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND You can talk about:
• heavy reading material
• a heavy discussion
(But probably not a heavy explanation). You can also say that a person speaks English with a heavy foreign accent (also a strong foreign accent). 

RELATING TO LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY We often use this with large amounts money that we are unhappy about paying:
• If you park your car in the wrong place, you may have to pay a heavy fine.
• An investor can suffer heavy losses on the stock exchange.
(But probably not, for example, heavy phone bill. We would be more likely to say huge phone bill or hefty phone bill.

Short exercise

Rewrite the following sentences, using the word heavy.
1. Our office has been very busy today.
   - We've had a ______.
2. My brother smokes two packets of cigarettes a day.
   - My brother's ______.
3. Pierre's English is quite good, but he sounds very French.
   - Pierre speaks English with ______.
4. I'm sorry I'm late. I got stuck in a traffic jam.
   - I'm sorry I'm late. The traffic ______.
5. I dropped a candy wrapper on the street in Singapore and they fined me $400.
   - I dropped a candy wrapper on the street in Singapore and I was given ______.
6. She's quite pretty, but make-up is a bit excessive.
   - I wish she wouldn't wear such ______.
7. It was very frosty when we got up this morning.
   - The frost ______.

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Friends in Low Places

To have friends in high places is to know important people who can help you get what you want. The opposite situation was not usually expressed by switching high for low; that is, until the release of the song "Friends in Low Places" by American country music artist Garth Brooks. According to one of the song's composers, the idea of the song was born when he and some friends went out for lunch one day. When the check came, he realized he had forgotten his money. He was asked how he was going to pay for the meal, and he replied, "Don't worry. I have friends in low places. I know the cook."
"Friends in Low Places" entered the charts on August 18, 1990. It reached number one on October 6 and remained there for four weeks, but it is still popular in karaoke and as a sing-along party song. Brooks said once "We've had a lot of fun with that song, but it's nothing to base your values on."

Blame it all on my roots,

I showed up in boots,

And ruined your black tie affair.

The last one to know,

The last one to show,

I was the last one you thought you'd see there.

And I saw a surprise,

When I took his glass of champange,

I toasted you,

Said, Honey, we may be through,

But you'll never hear me complain,

(Chorus)

'Cause I got friends in low places,

Where the whiskey drowns,

And the beer chases my blues away,

But, I'll be okay.

Now I'm not big on social graces,

Think I'll slip on down to the oasis,

Oh I got friends,
In low places

I guess I was wrong 

I just don't belong
but then I've been there before,

Everything's alright
I'll just say goodnight 

and I'll show myself to the door.
Hey I didn't mean to cause a big scene

just give me an hour and then,

I'll be as high as that Ivory Tower
and you'll never know,

Chorus

Chorus

Some Strong Examples

A few examples of phrases using strong - for which weak is not a true opposite

strong-arm INFORMAL using physical force or violence. He tried to get his way through strong-arm tactics.

strong drink - drink containing much alcohol. She can't tolerate strong drink.

strong-minded - having a strong, unyielding mind or will. 

strong room  A strongly built fireproof room designed for the safekeeping of money or valuables.
strong silent type -A man of action who is reserved and masks his feelings. She always falls for the strong silent type.
strong suit. An area in which someone or something excels, as in  Writing is her strong suit. 


come on strong - SLANG to make a striking impression, often in an aggressive way