The meaning of に in [切り出すに切り出せず]


I don't understand the meaning of に in this sentence:

> 切り出すに切り出せず、今日まできてしまいました

Is 切り出すに切り出せず fashioned after some particular grammar? I can't really think of
an interpretation that sounds natural.




> 「Verb + に（or にも） + **_Same_** Verb in **_potential_** form + ず」

is a very common phrase pattern that expresses one's inability or hesitation
to perform the action described by the verb.

See 一-2 in:
<https://kotobank.jp/word/%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82-592921#E3.83.87.E3.82.B8.E3.82.BF.E3.83.AB.E5.A4.A7.E8.BE.9E.E6.B3.89>

> 「[切]{き}り[出]{だ}すに切り出せず、[今日]{きょう}まできてしまいました。」

means:

> "I have not been quite able to bring up (this) topic until today."




> 「Verb + に（or にも） + **_Same_** Verb in **_potential_** form + ず」

is a very common phrase pattern that expresses one's inability or hesitation
to perform the action described by the verb.

See 一-2 in:
<https://kotobank.jp/word/%E3%81%AB%E3%82%82-592921#E3.83.87.E3.82.B8.E3.82.BF.E3.83.AB.E5.A4.A7.E8.BE.9E.E6.B3.89>

> 「[切]{き}り[出]{だ}すに切り出せず、[今日]{きょう}まできてしまいました。」

means:

> "I have not been quite able to bring up (this) topic until today."

