overheads pl n business expenses, such as rent, that are not directly attributable to any department or product and can therefore be assigned only arbitrarily,
(Also called)
burden, fixed costs, indirect costs, oncost Compare →
prime cost
beast of burden
n an animal, such as a donkey or ox, used for carrying loads
burden [1]
n
1 something that is carried; load
2 something that is exacting, oppressive, or difficult to bear
the burden of responsibility Related adj →
onerous
a the cargo capacity of a ship
b the weight of a ship's cargo
vb tr
4 sometimes foll by: up to put or impose a burden on; load
5 to weigh down; oppress
the old woman was burdened with cares
(Old English byrthen; related to beran to bear1, Old Frisian berthene burden, Old High German burdin)
burden [2]
n
1 a line of words recurring at the end of each verse of a ballad or similar song; chorus or refrain
2 the principal or recurrent theme of a speech, book, etc.
3 another word for →
bourdon
(C16: from Old French bourdon bass horn, droning sound, of imitative origin)
burden of proof
n (Law) the obligation, in criminal cases resting initially on the prosecution, to provide evidence that will convince the court or jury of the truth of one's contention
White man's burden
n the supposed duty of the White race to bring education and Western culture to the non-White inhabitants of their colonies