Cool MateShoulder vs You take on the responsibility
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Shoulder
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
You take on the responsibility
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Shoulder
| Shoulder | You take on the responsibility | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈʃəʊldə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʃəʊldər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː teɪk ɒn ðə rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪlɪti//🇺🇸 //ju teɪk ɑn ði rɪˌspɑnsəˈbɪlɪti// |
| Meaning | The part of your body that connects your arm to your body. | You accept the duty to do something. |
| Example | She placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. | When you start a new job, you take on the responsibility of meeting deadlines. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | broad, huge, muscled, shrug, hunch, drop, be bent, be bowed, be stooped, on somebody’s shoulders | take on a challenge, take on new roles, take on duties, take on projects, take on liability |
| Antonyms | kneecap, hip | neglect, reject, shirk |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'sholder', a common misspelling., 'Shoulder' used incorrectly to refer to other body parts., Using 'shoulders' as singular when talking about one shoulder. | Confused with 'take off' which has a different meaning, Using 'took on' incorrectly for ongoing responsibilities instead of past, Omitting 'the responsibility' and leaving it vague |
| Usage notes | Used to refer to the anatomical part of the body. Common in both formal and informal contexts like health discussions, sports, or everyday conversation. Avoid using in overly technical medical discussions unless specifying 'shoulder joint'. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid in very casual conversations; reserve for discussions about work or commitments. |
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Frequently asked questions: Shoulder vs You take on the responsibility
What's the difference between Shoulder and You take on the responsibility?
Shoulder: The part of your body that connects your arm to your body. You take on the responsibility: You accept the duty to do something.
Which is more common: Shoulder and You take on the responsibility?
Shoulder is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Shoulder: She placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. You take on the responsibility: When you start a new job, you take on the responsibility of meeting deadlines.
Can I use Shoulder and You take on the responsibility interchangeably?
Not always. Shoulder and You take on the responsibility are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.