meat grinder

• Aparato para picar o moler carne, o, en sentido figurado, una situación o proceso extremadamente duro, destructivo o que consume personas o recursos sin piedad.

A device used for grinding or mincing meat, or metaphorically, a situation or process that is extremely harsh, destructive, or consumes people or resources without mercy.

1. Kitchen applianceB1formal

   A kitchen tool used to grind, mince, or chop meat into smaller pieces.

   Picadora de carne

   • She used a meat grinder to make fresh hamburger patties.
   • The butcher cleaned the meat grinder after processing the beef.
   • You can attach different blades to the meat grinder for various textures.

2. Violent or destructive situationC1informal

   A situation, often a battle or conflict, that causes heavy casualties or destruction.

   Picadora de carne (figurado)

   • The front line became a meat grinder for the soldiers.
   • The war was a meat grinder, leaving thousands dead.
   • The competition in that industry is a real meat grinder for small businesses.