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strain

Definition

  • noun: a feeling of stress and worry that you have because you are trying to do too much, are dealing with a difficult problem, etc.
  • noun: a group of presumed common ancestry with clear-cut physiological but usually not morphological distinctions
  • verb: to injure (a body part or muscle) by too much tension, use, or effort
  • verb: to draw tight
  • usually singular
  • synonyms: lineage, race, stock

Examples

  • People were 'straining their necks' [=were lifting their heads as high as they could by stretching their necks] to see the fight.

  • He 'cracked/collapsed/buckled under the strain'. [=he was not able to deal with the pressure]

  • I 'strained my ears' to hear [=I tried very hard to hear] what they were whispering.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) Oh, I don't know. Kramer dating your roommate, it's funny. It's a riot, Alice. When do you put the sauce on? Any other time. No, no, no. I like to strain the sauce. And I could really live without... ...the tribal music and the make-out sessions in the living room. Yeah, Tina likes the couch. (..)
    1991 TvShow: Seinfeld Title: The Truth Season: 3 Episode 2