Break the back of something
phrase
To complete the hardest part of a task or piece of work.
After studying for hours, I finally managed to break the back of my homework.
Often appears as...
- break the back of the project
- break the back of the task
phrase
To destroy or defeat something.
The new strategy was designed to break the back of the competition.
Often appears as...
- break the back of the competition
- break the back of the enemy
phrase
To complete the hardest part of a task or piece of work.
After studying for hours, I finally managed to break the back of my homework.
Often appears as...
- break the back of the project
- break the back of the task
phrase
To destroy or defeat something.
The new strategy was designed to break the back of the competition.
Often appears as...
- break the back of the competition
- break the back of the enemy
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Figurative Meaning
Used metaphorically to describe the point where significant progress makes a task easier to finish.
Once we've finalized the design, we'll have broken the back of the project.
Pro Tip 2/3Perseverance Implication
Implies that effort and persistence were necessary to reach this stage of the task.
It took all night, but we finally broke the back of the encryption code.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Not to be confused with physically breaking something; it's about overcoming a major challenge.
It felt great to break the back of my thesis after months of research.
Pro Tip 1/3Figurative Meaning
Used metaphorically to describe the point where significant progress makes a task easier to finish.
Once we've finalized the design, we'll have broken the back of the project.
Pro Tip 2/3Perseverance Implication
Implies that effort and persistence were necessary to reach this stage of the task.
It took all night, but we finally broke the back of the encryption code.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Not to be confused with physically breaking something; it's about overcoming a major challenge.
It felt great to break the back of my thesis after months of research.
Pro Tip 1/3Figurative Meaning
Used metaphorically to describe the point where significant progress makes a task easier to finish.
Once we've finalized the design, we'll have broken the back of the project.
Pro Tip 2/3Perseverance Implication
Implies that effort and persistence were necessary to reach this stage of the task.
It took all night, but we finally broke the back of the encryption code.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Not to be confused with physically breaking something; it's about overcoming a major challenge.
It felt great to break the back of my thesis after months of research.
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