Shouldered for Dummies

Shouldered is a word that describes the action of carrying or supporting something or someone on your shoulders. Imagine that you have two strong hands, and you use them to lift and hold something above your shoulders, like a heavy backpack or a friend who needs a boost. When you do this, you are "shouldering" the weight or responsibility of whatever is being carried or supported.

So, let's say you have a big stack of books that you need to carry upstairs. Instead of holding them with your hands, you decide to put them on your shoulders. When you do this, you are shouldering the books. It's like your shoulders become their own little shelf or platform to support the weight of the books. You carry the books without using your hands, using only your strong shoulders to bear the load.

Now, "shouldered" can also have a different meaning. It can describe taking on or accepting a responsibility or burden. Imagine that you have a group project at school, and everyone needs to do their part to make it successful. But some members of the group aren't doing their fair share of work. You step forward and say, "I'll take care of it. I'll shoulder the responsibility of making sure the project gets done." In this situation, you are someone who is willing to carry or support the burden of the project, even if it means extra work for you.

In summary, "shouldered" means carrying or supporting something or someone on your shoulders, whether it's a physical object like a backpack or a responsibility or burden. It's like your shoulders become a strong foundation for whatever needs to be carried or supported. And when you shoulder something, you are taking on the responsibility and offering your support, even if it means extra effort on your part.