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break the back of

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌbreɪk ðə ˈbæk əv/

break the back of means: To finish the largest or hardest part of a job, leaving easier work to do.

verb

FINISH HARDEST PARTC1

To finish the largest or hardest part of a job, leaving easier work to do.

  • We have broken the back of the work.
  • One long afternoon broke the back of the cleaning job.
  • Can we break the back of this project today?

How to use it: break the back of something (We broke the back of the project before the holiday.)

Similar words: finish the hardest part

Common phrases: break the back of something, break the back of it

DESTROY STRENGTHC1

To destroy the strength or ability of a person, group, or system to continue.

  • The attack broke the back of their army.
  • New competitors have broken the back of the local industry.
  • The arrests were intended to break the back of the movement.

How to use it: break the back of something (The defeat broke the back of the rebellion.)

Similar words: cripple, crush, disable

Opposites: strengthen

Common phrases: break the back of something, break the back of resistance

OVERLOADC2

To give someone or an organization more work, costs, or difficulties than they can manage.

  • These debts could break the back of the company.
  • The extra workload broke the back of an already exhausted team.
  • Higher rents threaten to break the back of small businesses.

How to use it: break the back of someone/something (These extra costs could break the back of the small charity.)

Similar words: overburden, overload, overwhelm

Common phrases: break the back of someone, break the back of something

Questions about break the back of

What does break the back of mean?

To finish the largest or hardest part of a job, leaving easier work to do.

What is break the back of in other languages?

Türkçe: işin en zor kısmını bitirmek · Español: hacer lo más difícil · Français: faire le plus gros de · Deutsch: den schwierigsten Teil erledigen · Italiano: fare il grosso di · 日本語: 山場を越える

How do you pronounce break the back of?

It is pronounced /ˌbreɪk ðə ˈbæk əv/.

How do you use break the back of in a sentence?

We have broken the back of the work. One long afternoon broke the back of the cleaning job.

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break the back of in other languages

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