break the back of

hacer lo más difícil

Terminar la parte más grande o difícil de un trabajo, dejando lo más fácil para después.

En inglés sencillo: 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?

Cómo se usa: break the back of something (We broke the back of the project before the holiday.)

Sinónimos: finish the hardest part

Expresiones frecuentes: break the back of something, break the back of it

quebrantar, desarticular

Destruir la fuerza o la capacidad de una persona, grupo o sistema para seguir adelante.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Cómo se usa: break the back of something (The defeat broke the back of the rebellion.)

Sinónimos: cripple, crush, disable

Antónimos: strengthen

Expresiones frecuentes: break the back of something, break the back of resistance

sobrecargar, agobiar

Imponer a una persona u organización más trabajo, gastos o dificultades de los que puede soportar.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Cómo se usa: break the back of someone/something (These extra costs could break the back of the small charity.)

Sinónimos: overburden, overload, overwhelm

Expresiones frecuentes: break the back of someone, break the back of something