phrasal
or bear down upon
1. : to sail toward often in force or with hostile intent
an enemy frigate bearing down on the sloop
: proceed toward especially impressively, awesomely, or forcibly
2. : to give major attention to : stress
a lecture that bore down on economic causes
3. : to weigh heavily on : afflict , burden : treat in a noticeably demanding way
a tax that bore down on the poorer groups
bear down on a man whose work has fallen off