break the back of — (something) to destroy something. Police are hoping they can break the back of these gangs. Experts say we will have to live in a state of high alert until we break the back of terrorism. Etymology: based on the idea that breaking the back of an… … New idioms dictionary
break the back of — ► break the back of accomplish the main or hardest part of. Main Entry: ↑break … English terms dictionary
break the back — phrasal 1. : to check, subdue, or overcome the main force : leave existent but powerless to break the back of enemy resistance 2. of a ship : to break the keel and keelson … Useful english dictionary
break the back of — phrasal to subdue the main force of < break the back of inflation > … New Collegiate Dictionary
break the back of — idi to conquer the most difficult or resistant part of: to break the back of urban crime[/ex] … From formal English to slang
break the back of something — british phrase to finish the main part or the hardest part of a piece of work I think we’ve broken the back of the job now. Thesaurus: to finish somethingsynonym to kill a person or animalsynonym Main entry: break * * * b … Useful english dictionary
break the back of something — break the back of (something) to destroy something. Police are hoping they can break the back of these gangs. Experts say we will have to live in a state of high alert until we break the back of terrorism. Etymology: based on the idea that… … New idioms dictionary
break the back of the beast — If you break the back of the beast, you accomplish a challenge … The small dictionary of idiomes
break the back of — verb To achieve the greater part of some project. Ive broken the back of painting the shed Ill finish it after lunch … Wiktionary
To break the back — Break Break (br[=a]k), v. t. [imp. {broke} (br[=o]k), (Obs. {Brake}); p. p. {Broken} (br[=o] k n), (Obs. {Broke}); p. pr. & vb. n. {Breaking}.] [OE. breken, AS. brecan; akin to OS. brekan, D. breken, OHG. brehhan, G. brechen, Icel. braka to creak … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
