dead weight

Meanings

1. Unremitting heavy weight that does not move.
2. The largest weight of cargo a ship is able to carry; i.e., the weight of a ship when fully loaded minus its weight when empty.
3. A dead load.
4. That which is useless or excess; that which slows something down.
5. The total (unpowered) weight of a train to be propelled (or hauled) by the locomotive; another locomotive being hauled dead as part of the train is a dead weight.

1. With just enough weight for a ball to drop into a pocket, or come to rest in a precisely determined position.