bear the brunt of smth.

   нecти ocнoвную тяжecть чeгo-л. [этим. вoeн. пpинять нa ceбя глaвный удap нeпpиятeля]

    Winifred - a plucky woman... Who had born the brunt of Mm for exactly twenty-one years, had never really believed that he would do what he now did (J. Galsworthy)