ただでさえ

[唯でさえ] to add to O

［通例文頭で］ …に加えて∥ To add to his difficulties his son died a sudden death. 彼はたたでさえ困難な状況にいるのにそのうえ息子が急死した

(and) to make matters ［things］ worse

［しばしば文頭で］悪いことは重なるもので∥ The boy was tired and hungry， and to make matters worse， he lost his lunch. 少年はただでさえ疲れて空腹だったところに弁当まで落としてしまった.

唯でさえ
even at the best of times
(even) under normal circumstances
in addition to

* * *

ただでさえ【唯でさえ】

to add to O

［通例文頭で］ …に加えて

To add to his difficulties his son died a sudden death. 彼はたたでさえ困難な状況にいるのにそのうえ息子が急死した

(and) to make matters ［things］ worse

［しばしば文頭で］悪いことは重なるもので

The boy was tired and hungry， and to make matters worse， he lost his lunch. 少年はただでさえ疲れて空腹だったところに弁当まで落としてしまった.

* * *

ただでさえ

●ただでさえ困っているところへ just when one was already in trouble [in trouble as it was]; to add to one's misery; to make matters worse.

●老いた両親の介護でただでさえストレスがたまっている妻にこれ以上負担はかけられない. As it is she's under a lot of stress in caring for her old parents, so I can't press any more obligations on my wife.

・東京なんか行かないで. ただでさえお母さんは寂しいのに. Don't leave me and go to Tokyo! Your poor mother is lonely enough as it is.

・ただでさえ不景気なのに異常気象まで追い打ちをかけてきた. In addition to the general recession we were further afflicted by the abnormal weather.