Lǐngdǎo yǒuyì gěi tā yā yādànzi, kàn tā néngbunéng káng qǐlái.
The boss deliberately piled on responsibility to see if he could shoulder it.
Tips
usage
The metaphor is literal: 担子 is a carrying-pole with loads, 压 is pressing it down. Almost always said from above (a manager, teacher, or parent giving someone a bigger task to toughen them up). Positive intent.