Expression: "crosses to bear"

[Alder]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #69 "Bearing Information", question 5

We all have our ......... to bear so I should be grateful if you would stop complaining all the time.

(a) problems
(b) situations
(c) crosses
(d) results

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #69 "Bearing Information", answer 5

We all have our crosses to bear so I should be grateful if you would stop complaining all the time.

Correct answer: (c) crosses

Your answer was: incorrect
We all have our problems to bear so I should be grateful if you would stop complaining all the time.
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hi
why not problems to bear?

Alder

[Alan]

Hi Alder,

This is a set expression and comes from the time when people were crucified and had to to carry(bear) their own cross on the way to the crucifixion.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Farzana]

Dear Alan,

what is the meaning of this sentence? When do we use?

Farzana

[Kati Svaby]

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In this meaning the cross is synonymous with the problem. Than Alan explained with the verb bear this is a "set expressions": crosses to bear. Without bear we can say: Don't complain because everybody has own problem and the complaint doesn't help.

Take care.