break the back of

faire le plus gros de

Terminer la plus grande partie d'un travail ou la plus difficile, en laissant le reste plus facile.

En anglais simple : 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?

Comment l'utiliser : break the back of something (We broke the back of the project before the holiday.)

Synonymes : finish the hardest part

Expressions courantes : break the back of something, break the back of it

briser, anéantir

Détruire la force d'une personne, d'un groupe ou d'un système, ou sa capacité à continuer.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : break the back of something (The defeat broke the back of the rebellion.)

Synonymes : cripple, crush, disable

Contraires : strengthen

Expressions courantes : break the back of something, break the back of resistance

accabler, surcharger

Imposer à une personne ou une organisation plus de travail, de frais ou de difficultés qu'elle ne peut supporter.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : break the back of someone/something (These extra costs could break the back of the small charity.)

Synonymes : overburden, overload, overwhelm

Expressions courantes : break the back of someone, break the back of something