bear the bulk

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bear the bulk" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It means to carry or handle the majority or main portion of something. Example: During the busy season, the manager had to bear the bulk of the workload while her employees were on vacation. In terms of using it in a sentence, it can be used in situations where one person is shouldering the majority of a responsibility or task. For example: - As the leader of the team, I have to bear the bulk of the decision-making process. - My husband and I split the household chores, but I still bear the bulk of the cooking responsibilities. - The students were assigned a group project, but it was clear that one person was bearing the bulk of the work. In the example sentence provided, "bear the bulk of the housework" means that the child should be responsible for a large portion of the household chores.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

After all, individuals bear the bulk of the costs of obesity, quite literally.

The Economist

It's not that insurers necessarily believe the sick should bear the bulk of the cost burden.

The Washington Post

Is that fair, that as a result, this generation has to bear the bulk of the burden in the downturn?

The Guardian - Business

"This was a unique operation in that the U.S. wasn't left to bear the bulk of the burden itself," said Benjamin J. Rhodes, a deputy national security adviser.

The New York Times

Major net contributors such as Germany and the Netherlands do not see why they should also bear the bulk of the costs of enlargement.

The Economist

While leaving individuals to bear the bulk of the costs of tuition, they have not deterred the less well-off from going to university.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

In the original plan for the cleanup, sugar farmers were required to pay a tax, but ordinary taxpayers bore the bulk of the cost.

The New Yorker

Xavier Doherty was the pick of the Australian bowlers, taking 2-74 while quicks Clint McKay (1-89) aNathanhan Coulter-Nile (0-80) bore the bulk of the punishment.

The Guardian - Sport

They took most of the profits when the market was booming and shareholders bore the bulk of the losses during the bust.What about the efforts made to align the incentives of employees, executives and shareholders?

The Economist

CONGRESS has proven adept at placing blame for the gulf oil spill — depending on whom you listen to on Capitol Hill, BP bears the bulk of the responsibility, or the Interior Department and its increasingly inadequate regulations, or both.

The New York Times

Critics say the F.D.A., which bears the bulk of the food-safety load, is woefully underfinanced and understaffed, and they note that fewer than 1percentt of imported food shipments undergo laboratory analysis.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "bear the bulk", ensure the subject clearly shoulders the majority of a specific responsibility or burden. For example, "The volunteers had to bear the bulk of the work after the storm."

Common error

Avoid using "bear the bulk" when the responsibility is distributed evenly. The phrase implies a significantly larger share falling on one entity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bear the bulk" functions as a verb phrase, where "bear" acts as the main verb, indicating the act of carrying or handling, and "the bulk" serves as the direct object, specifying what is being carried. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "bear the bulk" is a correct and commonly used expression that signifies handling the majority of something, whether it's a responsibility, cost, or workload. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for professional communication. Related phrases include "assume the bulk" and "undertake the bulk", each carrying slightly different nuances. Remember to use it when responsibility truly rests on one entity and ensure clarity in attributing this responsibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assume the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "assume", indicating acceptance of responsibility.

take the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "take", a more direct way of expressing assuming the major portion.

undertake the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "undertake", suggesting a more active and intentional assumption.

accept the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "accept", emphasizing the acceptance of a large portion.

bring the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "bring", focusing on providing the main part.

absorb the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "absorb", implying dealing with the major portion of something negative, like losses.

bear the brunt

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes enduring the worst part of a negative impact.

have the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "have", suggesting possession of the largest part.

suffer the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "suffer", emphasizing experiencing the negative consequences of a large portion.

incur the bulk

Replaces "bear" with "incur", suggesting becoming subject to the majority of something, usually negative.

FAQs

How can I use "bear the bulk" in a sentence?

Use "bear the bulk" to indicate that someone or something handles or endures the majority of a responsibility, task, or burden. For example, "The manager had to "assume the bulk" of the workload."

What can I say instead of "bear the bulk"?

You can use alternatives like "shoulder the majority", "take on most of", or "handle the majority depending on the context".

Is it better to say "bear the bulk" or "bear the brunt"?

"Bear the brunt" typically refers to enduring the worst part of a negative impact, while "bear the bulk" refers to handling the majority of something, which may not necessarily be negative. The choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "bear the bulk" and "bear the burden"?

"Bear the burden" generally refers to carrying the weight of a responsibility or obligation, whereas "bear the bulk" indicates handling the largest portion of something, such as costs or tasks.