break the back of (something)

1. To quell something or destroy it altogether. This new initiative aims to break the back of the drug trade in our country.

2. To complete the most challenging part of a task or project. When you take the exam, you should break the back of the chemical equations first, since they give you the most trouble.

See also: back, break, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

break the back of something

Fig. to end the domination of something; to reduce the power of something. The government has worked for years to break the back of organized crime. This new medicine should break the back of the epidemic.

See also: back, break, of

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

break the back of

Overpower, overcome; also, get through the hardest part of. For example, This new offense has broken the back of the opposing team, or We're well over halfway there; we've broken the back of this journey. [Mid-1800s]

See also: back, break, of

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

break the back of something

1. If you break the back of a task, you deal with the main or most difficult parts of it. The new government hopes to have broken the back of the economic crisis by the middle of this year.

2. To break the back of something means to do something which will destroy or end it. They would all like to be known as the politician who broke the back of global poverty. The government made a big effort late last year to break the back of the black market.

break the back of

1 accomplish the main or hardest part of a task. 2 overwhelm or defeat.

See also: back, break, of

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

break the ˈback of something

finish the largest or most difficult part of a task: I won’t finish this report tonight but I’d like to break the back of it before I go to bed.

词组	break the back of (something)
释义	break the back of (something) break the back of (something) 1. To quell something or destroy it altogether. This new initiative aims to break the back of the drug trade in our country. 2. To complete the most challenging part of a task or project. When you take the exam, you should break the back of the chemical equations first, since they give you the most trouble. See also: back, break, of Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. break the back of something Fig. to end the domination of something; to reduce the power of something. The government has worked for years to break the back of organized crime. This new medicine should break the back of the epidemic. See also: back, break, of McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. break the back of Overpower, overcome; also, get through the hardest part of. For example, This new offense has broken the back of the opposing team, or We're well over halfway there; we've broken the back of this journey. [Mid-1800s] See also: back, break, of The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. break the back of something 1. If you break the back of a task, you deal with the main or most difficult parts of it. The new government hopes to have broken the back of the economic crisis by the middle of this year. 2. To break the back of something means to do something which will destroy or end it. They would all like to be known as the politician who broke the back of global poverty. The government made a big effort late last year to break the back of the black market. See also: back, break, of, something Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. break the back of 1 accomplish the main or hardest part of a task. 2 overwhelm or defeat. See also: back, break, of Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary break the ˈback of something finish the largest or most difficult part of a task: I won’t finish this report tonight but I’d like to break the back of it before I go to bed. See also: back, break, of, something Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary See also: break the back of break the back of something take an axe to put (something) into service smash (something) to smithereens plumb new depths plumb new depths (of something) knock the bottom out knock the bottom out of knock the bottom out of (someone or something)
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