to exert oneself greatly; to take pains
to make efforts; to take pains; to break a bone
to tuck up (e.g. skirt); to abridge; to cut short
to interrupt (a story, etc.); to bend at the waist
to count on one's fingers
to waste one's efforts; to work to no (useful) effect
to concede a point; to yield; to give in
to spoil someone's start; to kill someone's enthusiasm; to take the wind out of someone's sails
to spoil someone's start; to kill someone's enthusiasm; to take the wind out of someone's sails