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brunt

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bear the brunt (of something)

to withstand the worst part or the strongest part of something, such as an attack. I had to bear the brunt of her screaming and yelling. Why don't you talk with her the next time she complains? I'm tired of bearing the brunt of her objections.

See also: bear, brunt

bear the brunt of something

to get the greater amount or larger part of something bad Ordinary citizens will bear the brunt of higher taxes. The oldest parts of the town bore the brunt of the missile attacks.

See also: bear, brunt, of

bear/take the brunt of something

to receive the worst part of something unpleasant or harmful, such as an attack The oldest parts of the town bore the brunt of the missile attacks.

See also: bear, brunt, of

bear the brunt

Put up with the worst of some bad circumstance, as in It was the secretary who had to bear the brunt of the doctor's anger. This idiom uses brunt in the sense of "the main force of an enemy's attack," which was sustained by the front lines of the defenders. [Second half of 1700s]

See also: bear, brunt