caught the brunt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "caught the brunt" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone or something that has endured the most severe impact or consequences of a situation. Example: "During the economic downturn, small businesses caught the brunt of the financial crisis, struggling to stay afloat."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

It was Mansfield, one of those producers without portfolio, who caught the brunt of Susann's rages.

The New York Times

Billy Hutchinson, of the Progressive Unionist Party, which is close to the UVF, caught the brunt of the UDA's campaign.

The Guardian

One caught the candidate, saving him from possible injury, while another caught the brunt of the falling banister, fracturing several bones in his foot.

The New York Times

Mr. Wingo said Ms. Whitman's successor, John J. Donahoe, caught "the brunt of the blame, but a lot of sellers blame Meg as well".

The New York Times

Rockport, the coastal town about 30 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, population 10,000, caught the brunt of Harvey's vicious core.

The Washington Post

"Suddenly there came a scattering fire of which the three fielders caught the brunt; the center field was hit and was captured; the left and right field managed to get into our lines," he wrote.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Unsurprisingly, taunting teenage boys catch the brunt of this (they presumably go on to become successful Krampuses themselves).

Los Angeles Times

They knew that they would be the ones to catch the brunt of an attack on Gaza, not Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem.

Huffington Post

Winds can reach considerable strength, especially on the exposed coast; most of the South Island's storms develop to the south or southwest of the island, and thus the Catlins catches the brunt of many of these weather patterns.

Wikipedia

Identify other employees who seem to catch the brunt of his actions and support each other.

WikiHow

You don't want to be caught in the brunt of the explosion and hurt yourself, as well!

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "caught the brunt" when you want to emphasize that someone or something received the main force or impact of a negative event or situation. It's effective for illustrating unequal distribution of consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "caught the brunt" when the impact is distributed evenly. This phrase implies that the affected party experienced the most severe consequences compared to others.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught the brunt" functions as a verb phrase. It describes the action of receiving or experiencing the most severe or impactful part of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase follows standard grammatical rules. Examples from Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

18%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "caught the brunt" effectively conveys that an entity has experienced the most severe part of an impact. Grammatically correct and versatile across contexts, it's most frequently used in news and media. As Ludwig AI has confirmed, the phrase is both grammatically sound and carries a clear, understandable meaning. While alternatives like "bore the brunt" exist, "caught the brunt" emphasizes the immediate reception of the impact. Remember to use it when highlighting a disproportionate share of negative consequences. Overall, this expression is suitable for illustrating imbalances in effects, while avoiding it when illustrating consequences that are evenly distributed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

bore the brunt

This is a direct synonym, simply replacing "caught" with "bore" to indicate bearing the impact.

faced the brunt

Replaces "caught" with "faced", emphasizing the act of confronting the negative impact.

endured the worst

Shifts the focus to the act of enduring the negative effects, rather than receiving them.

sustained the impact

Highlights the act of withstanding the force of something.

took the hit

An informal way of saying that someone experienced the main negative consequence.

was most affected

A more general way to say that something experienced the greatest impact.

received the worst of

Highlights the act of receiving the most negative effects of something.

felt the full force of

Emphasizes the intensity of the impact experienced.

was in the firing line

An idiomatic expression indicating exposure to criticism or attack.

became the scapegoat

Shifts the focus to being unfairly blamed or punished.

FAQs

What does "caught the brunt" mean?

It means someone or something has experienced the worst part or main impact of something negative, like a storm or a crisis.

What can I say instead of "caught the brunt"?

You can use alternatives like "bore the brunt", "faced the brunt", or "took the hit" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "caught the brunt of the blame"?

Yes, it's correct. It means someone received most of the blame or criticism for something.

What's the difference between "caught the brunt" and "bore the brunt"?

They are very similar and often interchangeable. "Bore the brunt" might suggest a more sustained or prolonged experience of the negative impact, while "caught the brunt" focuses on the initial reception of the impact.