Grammar fix
bear the brunt
take the worst of (something)
to receive or experience the worst part or the main force of something unpleasant, such as criticism, blame, or negative effects.
collocationC1occasional
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
During the recession, young people bore the brunt of job losses.
In my opinion, it is often children who bear the brunt of family conflicts, as they are the most affected by changes at home.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: She bore the brunt for the criticism.
Say: She bore the brunt of the criticism.
'The brunt OF something', not 'for'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'Absorbed the principal severe portion' spells out an idiom; 'bore the brunt of' is the set phrase.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
bear the brunt of
- of
- take
- the cost
- the blame