break the back of

山場を越える、大部分を終える

仕事の大部分や最も難しい部分を終え、簡単な部分だけを残す。

やさしい英語で： 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?

使い方： break the back of something (We broke the back of the project before the holiday.)

類義語： finish the hardest part

よく使う表現： break the back of something, break the back of it

壊滅させる、力を奪う

人や集団、仕組みの力を奪い、活動を続けられなくする。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： break the back of something (The defeat broke the back of the rebellion.)

類義語： cripple, crush, disable

反対語： strengthen

よく使う表現： break the back of something, break the back of resistance

過度の負担をかける、重荷で押しつぶす

人や組織に、対応できないほどの仕事や費用、困難を負わせる。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： break the back of someone/something (These extra costs could break the back of the small charity.)

類義語： overburden, overload, overwhelm

よく使う表現： break the back of someone, break the back of something