bring sth to its knees 使得…屈服、瘫痪、罢工
The strikes brought the industry to its knees.罢工使得这个行业陷入瘫痪。
The stories were of a dullness to bring a buffalo to its knees.故事比较乏味，讲得是驯服一头水牛。
The cost of the war had beaten the dingdom to its knees.战争的巨耗使该王国国力衰竭，一蹶不振。