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Collocations for strain - noun

1. severe demand on strength, resources, etc.

ADJ.

considerable, enormous, great, heavy, real, severe, terrible, tremendous
It''s a real strain having to get up so early!
slight | increasing | constant | excessive, intolerable, unbearable, undue | emotional, financial, mental, nervous, physical, psychological
The mental strain of sharing an office with Alison was starting to tell.
breaking
a fishing line with a 15lb breaking strain

VERB + STRAIN

be/come under, feel, suffer (from)
Television newsreaders come under enormous strain. | After weeks of overtime, she was starting to feel the strain.
cause, create, impose, place, put
Increasing demand is placing undue strain on services.
ease, reduce | cope with, stand, take | increase

STRAIN + VERB

show, take its toll (on sb), tell (on sb)
After six weeks of uncertainty, the strain was beginning to take its toll.

PREP.

under the ~
The ice gave way under the strain. | He broke under the strain of having to work twelve hours a day.
~ on
There''s too much strain on the corner of the table.

PHRASES

a bit of a strain
I found it a bit of a strain making conversation with her.
signs of strain
After three years, their marriage was beginning to show signs of strain.
stresses and strains
the stresses and strains of a long day
take the strain off sb/out of sth
The new scheme is designed to take the strain out of shopping.

2. injury

ADJ.

bad | slight | back, eye, muscle, thigh, etc.

VERB + STRAIN

have, be suffering from | get
You''ll get eye strain if you don''t put the light on.
recover from, shake off
Gerrard will play if he can shake off a slight thigh strain.

Collocations for strain - verb

1. make a great effort to do sth

ADV.

hard
straining hard to understand
forward
I strained forward to get a better view.

VERB + STRAIN

have to

PREP.

against
The dogs were straining against the sledge.
at
Several men were straining at a rope, trying to move the stalled vehicle.
for
Their ears strained for any slight sound.

PHRASES

strain to hear/see sth
We had to strain to hear what was being said.

2. put a lot of pressure on sth

ADV.

seriously, severely
The dispute severely strained relations between the two countries.

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