bear the brunt; be first to suffer
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesidiom
to bear the brunt of; to be the first to be attacked or suffer disaster
formalOriginally a military term referring to the most vital strategic point (要冲) that would face the enemy first. Now used broadly to describe anyone or anything that suffers the first and often worst impact of negative events, crises, attacks, or disasters.
Zài在
jīn金
róng融
wēi危
jī机
zhōng中
，
zhōng中
xiǎo小
qǐ企
yè业
shǒu首
dāng当
qí其
chōng冲
。
Small and medium-sized enterprises bore the brunt of the financial crisis.
Měi每
dāng当
zhàn战
zhēng争
bào爆
fā发
，
píng平
mín民
zǒng总
shì是
shǒu首
dāng当
qí其
chōng冲
de地
zāo遭
shòu受
kǔ苦
nàn难
。
Whenever war breaks out, civilians are always the first to suffer hardships.
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Huán环
bǎo保
zhèng政
cè策
shōu收
jǐn紧
，
gāo高
wū污
rǎn染
háng行
yè业
shǒu首
dāng当
qí其
chōng冲
。
As environmental policies tighten, highly polluting industries are hardest hit.