heavy-duty adj.
1. (orig. US) intense, serious, committed.
 | Heart Specialist 252: It’s an extra-sized, over-stuffed, heavy-duty headache [HDAS]. | |
![[US]](/static/img/flags/us.png "United States") | Serial 29: Naomi, a heavy-duty intellectual, was practically Martha’s guru. | |
![[UK]](/static/img/flags/uk.png "United Kingdom") | Auf Wiedersehen Pet Two 86: I mean, we’re talkin’ about a heavy-duty villain here. | |
![[Scot]](/static/img/flags/sco.png "Scotland") | Trainspotting 64: This is a heavy-duty line-up for a fuckin porter’s job. | |
| Indep. Rev. 13 Jan. 1: He’s a heavy-duty Rasta. |
2. (US) tough, unpleasant.
| Blood Brothers 115: Jamaica’s a very heavy-duty place, very poor. | |
| Brown’s Requiem 171: Heavy-duty shit. | |
| Iced 148: I was busy orchestrating a deal with Dalek [...] when the heavy duty shit butchered the fan. | |
| ‘Dead Beard’ at www.asstr.org 🌐 The other thing that everybody knew was that he was dead apple fritter about how Dionne had treated him and wanted to cause her some really heavy duty omar sharif. | |
| Life 229: Yet you know they’re carrying weight, they can bring down some heavy-duty shit. |
3. (US) terrific, first-rate.
| (con. 1920s–30s) Youngblood (1956) 415: There was a beautiful rhythm in the way she walked. [...] ‘She truly built for speed – ain’t she Youngblood? And heavy duty!’. | |
| After Hours 10: Carlos Brigante was heavy duty. | |
| Another Day in Paradise 134: Not only is this guy a world-class athlete, but a heavy-duty celebrity as well. |
4. (US) deeply committed, heavily involved.
| What’s the Good Word? 5: Eric Heiden is a heavy-duty skater. |
5. (US drugs) strongly addictive.
| Hospital 36: I never did heavy-duty drugs. | |
| Ten Storey Love Song 63: She takes a lot of heavy-duty drugs. |
6. (US) fat, overweight.
| Guardian 30 Dec. 90/2: Tim [...] calls Jennifer names to try and shame her into dieting [...] ‘Fat Pig,’ ‘Linebacker,’ ‘Heavy duty’. |