To impose an unwanted burden, responsibility, or problem on someone.
To give someone a problem or responsibility they don't want.
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To give someone an unwanted or heavy burden, responsibility, or problem to deal with.
"She was saddled with her late father's debts and spent years paying them off."
We are saddled with this huge national debt.
— Ronald Reagan, various budget speeches, 1980s
To assign an unpleasant or difficult task to someone, often unfairly.
"Every time someone calls in sick, they saddle me with extra work."
To put a saddle on an animal — figuratively placing a heavy load on a person.
To give someone a problem or responsibility they don't want.
Almost always used in passive constructions ('be saddled with') or to describe an unfair imposition. The object is typically an undesirable thing: debt, a difficult person, or an unwanted task.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "saddle with" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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