лиха беда начать

• ЛИХ А БЕДА НАЧАЛО <НАЧАТЬ>

[sayingj beginning an endeavor is harder than continuing it once you have begun (may be used in refer, to both good deeds and reprehensible actions): - the first step is (always) the hardest; it's the first step that costs; the first blow is half the battle; a good start is half the race; well begun is half done; [in limited contexts]

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⇒ the first step is (always) the worst.

     ♦ [Большинцов:] Говорят, в этих делах лиха беда начать... (Тургенев 1). [В.:] They say, in these matters the first step is [the] hardest (lc).

     ♦ Лиха беда - начало. Одним словом, я аккуратнейшим образом, даже после ночной смены, посещала политзанятия у Евдокии Ивановны... (Гинзбург 2). As a good start is half the race, I made a point, even after my night shift, of attending punctiliously every one of Eudokia Ivanovna's political talks (2a).

     ♦ "Давайте выпьем!" - "Придётся. Лиха беда начало..." Лейтенант чокался с Григорием и поручиком, пил молча, почти не закусывал (Шолохов 5). "Let's drink!" "I suppose I'll have to. Oh well, the first step's the worst!" The English lieutenant clinked glasses with Grigory and his Russian companion and drank in silence, scarcely touching the food (5a).