Put/place a strain on somebody

The long working hours put a severe strain on employees.

Under (a) strain

I know you've been under a lot of strain lately.

crack/collapse/buckle etc under the strain (=become unable to deal with a problem or work)

I could see that she was beginning to crack under the strain.

2. DIFFICULTY

[uncountable and countable]a difficulty or problem that is caused when a person, relationship, organization, or system has too much to do or too many problems to deal with

Strain on

The dry summer has further increased the strain on water resources.

Put/place (a) strain on something

The flu epidemic has put a huge strain on the health service.

Strain in

The attack has led to strains in the relationship between the two countries.

Under (a) strain

His marriage was under strain.

Break/crack/collapse etc under the strain

The party split under the strain.

3 FORCE

[uncountable]a situation in which something is being pulled or pushed, or is holding weight, and so might break or become damaged

Strain on

The strain on the cables supporting the bridge is enormous.

Put/place (a) strain on something

Some of these exercises put too much strain on the back muscles.

These four posts take the strain of the whole structure.

break/snap/collapse etc under the strain The rope snapped under the strain.

4. INJURY

[uncountable and countable] an injury to a muscle or part of your body that is caused by using it too much

Long hours working at a computer can cause eye strain. The goalkeeper is still out of action with a knee strain.

5. PLANT/ANIMAL

[countable] a type of animal, plant, or disease

Strain of

different strains of wheat a new strain of the flu virus

6. QUALITY

[singular] a particular quality which people have, especially one that is passed from parents to children

Strain of

There's a strain of madness in his family.

7. WAY OF SAYING SOMETHING

[singular] formal an amount of a feeling that you can see in the way someone speaks, writes, paints etc

a strain of bitterness in Young's later work

8. strains of something

literary the sound of music being played

We sipped wine to the strains of Beethoven.

Strain verb

1. INJURE

[transitive] to injure a muscle or part of your body by using it too much or making it work too hard

I've strained a muscle in my leg You'll strain your eyes trying to read in this light.

2. EFFORT

[intransitive and transitive]to try very hard to do something using all your strength or ability

Strain (something) to do something

She was straining to keep her head above the water.

Strain for

Bill choked and gasped, straining for air.

strain your ears/eyes (=try very hard to hear or see)

I strained my ears, listening for any sound in the silence of the cave.

3. LIQUID

[transitive] to separate solid things from a liquid by pouring the mixture through something with very small holes in it

ￚsee also sieve She strained the pasta.

4. DIFFICULTY

[transitive] to cause difficulties for something by making too much work or too many problems which it cannot deal with easily

The increased costs will certainly strain our finances.

The incident has strained relations between the two countries.

5. PULL/PUSH

[intransitive] to pull hard at something or push hard against something

strain against

Buddy's huge gut strained against the buttons on his shirt.

Strain at

a dog straining at its lead

6. strain every nerve

to try as hard as possible to do something

He was straining every nerve to impress the judges.

7. be straining at the leash

to be eager to be allowed to do something

There are 30,000 troops in the area, all straining at the leash.

8. not strain yourself

to not work too hard or do too much physical activity

Don't strain yourself.

Strained adjective

1. a strained situation or behaviour is not relaxed, natural, or friendly

ￚsynonym tense

I couldn't stand the strained atmosphere at dinner any more.

the increasingly strained relations between the French and German governments

2. showing the effects of worry or too much work

Nina's voice sounded strained. Alex's pale, strained face

Abandon verb [transitive]

1. to leave someone, especially someone you are responsible for

How could she abandon her own child?

2. to go away from a place, vehicle etc permanently, especially because the situation makes it impossible for you to stay

ￚ synonym leave

We had to abandon the car and walk the rest of the way.

Fearing further attacks, most of the population had abandoned the city.

3. to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue

The game had to be abandoned due to bad weather.

4. to stop having a particular idea, belief, or attitude

They were accused of abandoning their socialist principles. Rescuers had abandoned all hope of finding any more survivors.

5. abandon yourself to something

literary to feel an emotion so strongly that you let it control you completely

She abandoned herself to grief.

6. abandon ship

to leave a ship because it is sinking

ￚ abandonment noun [uncountable]

abandon noun (uncountable)

if someone does something with abandon, they behave in a careless or uncontrolled way, without thinking or caring about what they are doing

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