strain
strain — noun
1. a force that pushes, pulls, or stretches an object, sometimes reaching a point w
a force that pushes, pulls, or stretches an object, sometimes reaching a point where the object is at risk of damage or breaking
The old bridge was not designed to handle the strain of modern heavy trucks.
strain of + noun phrase showing source of pressure
Min checked every knot for signs of strain before beginning the climb.
signs of strain — visible evidence of pressure
The constant strain of the wind against the sail tore a small hole in the fabric.
Sivan applied too much strain to the cable and it snapped with a loud noise.
Engineers measured the strain on each steel beam after the earthquake simulation.
- relaxation
release of tension or strain
- release
letting go of built-up force
用法筆記
Often used with 'put/place (a) strain on [something]' to describe what is being stressed. Common in engineering and construction contexts, but also used for everyday physical tension (e.g., the strain on a rope).
常見錯誤
2. a sore, swollen condition in muscle tissue caused by overstretching or overworki
a sore, swollen condition in muscle tissue caused by overstretching or overworking it beyond what it can handle
Shirin pulled a muscle in her leg and the doctor diagnosed a mild strain.
mild strain — severity gradation
Runners often get a hamstring strain if they skip their warm-up exercises before a race.
hamstring strain — specific body part collocation
Dahlia's back strain improved after three days of rest and gentle stretching.
Caleb suffered a groin strain during the football match and had to leave the field.
Min's wrist strain got worse because he kept typing without taking any breaks.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sprain: a strain affects muscles or tendons, while a sprain affects ligaments (tissue connecting bones at a joint). Commonly modified by the body part: 'hamstring strain', 'back strain', 'groin strain'.
常見錯誤
3. a feeling of worry, anxiety, or nervousness caused by having too many demands or
a feeling of worry, anxiety, or nervousness caused by having too many demands or problems to deal with, or a situation that produces this feeling
The strain of caring for two sick parents was beginning to show on Vivek's face.
the strain of + gerund — source of pressure
Financial strain often puts pressure on a marriage and can lead to arguments about money.
financial strain — common noun modifier
Lucía felt the strain of her final exams building as the date of the test came closer.
Working twelve-hour shifts without a day off put a huge strain on the hospital nursing staff.
The constant strain of meeting impossible deadlines made Christopher consider looking for a different job.
用法筆記
Commonly appears in the pattern 'put/place (a) strain on [someone/something]' (the source of pressure) or 'under (a lot of) strain' (experiencing pressure). The container is typically not the same as 'stress' — 'strain' emphasises the burden being carried, while 'stress' focuses on the physiological/psychological response.
常見錯誤
4. a particular quality or tendency in a person's character or in the atmosphere of
a particular quality or tendency in a person's character or in the atmosphere of something, often one that is inherited or runs deep
There is a strain of stubbornness in Sade that she clearly inherited from her grandmother.
a strain of + [abstract quality]
The comedian's humour has a dark strain that not everyone finds amusing at a family show.
Sivan noticed a competitive strain in her new colleague that came out during every team meeting.
A rebellious strain runs through most of the poetry written during that period of history.
Despite his friendly manner, there was a strain of arrogance in the way Minh talked about his achievements.
文法句型
a strain of + noun
用法筆記
Always singular in this sense. Typically followed by 'of' and an abstract noun (e.g., 'a strain of cruelty/melancholy/humour/idealism'). Describes a persistent, often underlying quality — not a temporary mood.
常見錯誤
5. a subgroup within a species of animals, plants, or disease-causing organisms tha
a subgroup within a species of animals, plants, or disease-causing organisms that has its own distinct inherited features
Scientists have identified a new strain of the virus that spreads much faster than the original.
new strain of a virus — common in health news
This strain of wheat grows well in dry conditions and needs very little water compared to others.
strain of + [plant]
The farm raises a rare strain of sheep known for its unusually soft and warm wool.
A drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis has become a serious concern for public health officials.
Minho's family has been growing this strain of rice on their land for more than fifty years.
用法筆記
Very common in medical and agricultural contexts. For diseases, 'strain' refers to a variant of a virus or bacteria. For plants/animals, it refers to a subtype developed through breeding or natural selection. Not used for individual animals — the term refers to the type, not a single creature.
常見錯誤
6. a melody or piece of music that reaches the ear, particularly one heard from som
a melody or piece of music that reaches the ear, particularly one heard from some distance away
The sweet strain of a violin drifted through the open windows of the old concert hall.
strain of + [instrument] — literary use
Minh could hear the familiar strain of a folk song coming from a small café across the street.
As the band played, the slow strain of the waltz filled the ballroom with a sense of nostalgia.
The distant strain of church bells reached the hikers as they walked through the valley below.
A cheerful strain of piano music came from the living room, where Élise was practising her favourite piece.
用法筆記
This sense is literary and somewhat old-fashioned. In modern everyday English, 'strain' is rarely used this way — 'tune', 'melody', or 'sound' are far more common. It often appears in descriptive or poetic writing, and frequently in the plural form ('strains of music').
strain — verb
1. to run a mixture of liquid and solid food across a mesh utensil so that the liqu
to run a mixture of liquid and solid food across a mesh utensil so that the liquid drips into a container below while the solids stay in the utensil
After cooking the spaghetti, Élise strained it and mixed it with tomato sauce.
strain + cooked pasta — common cooking use
Min carefully strained the tea leaves from the hot water before pouring himself a cup.
strain + object + from + noun — separating
You should strain the broth through a fine sieve to remove all the small herb pieces.
Christopher strained the seeds from the boiled fruit pulp to make smooth jelly.
The cook strained the rice and added a knob of butter before serving it with the curry.
文法句型
strain + object
strain + object + through + noun
strain + object + out
用法筆記
Primarily used in cooking and food preparation. The object can be the liquid being separated, the food being drained, or the ingredient being removed (e.g., 'strain the vegetables', 'strain the water', 'strain out the seeds'). 'To strain through' specifies the tool used.
常見錯誤
2. to stretch something tightly, push a part of your body or a system beyond its no
to stretch something tightly, push a part of your body or a system beyond its normal limits, or injure a muscle by overstretching it
Vivek strained his lower back when he lifted the heavy suitcase without bending his knees.
strain + body part — injure by overuse
The dog strained at the leash, barking and pulling toward the other dog across the park.
strain at — pull against resistance
Dahlia strained her eyes trying to read the tiny letters on the medicine bottle label.
The heavy snow strained the old barn roof until the wooden beams began to crack.
Minho strained to hear what his grandparents were saying in the quiet conversation across the room.
- relax
to release tension in muscles or effort
文法句型
strain + body part
strain + oneself
strain + to + infinitive
strain + at/against + noun
用法筆記
Very versatile sense. As a transitive verb the object is often a body part (strain one's back/neck/eyes/voice) or a system/object under tension. As an intransitive verb (strain to do something / strain at something) it describes effort. 'Strain oneself' means to try too hard physically.
常見錯誤
3. to use so much of something — especially money, time, or materials — that it bec
to use so much of something — especially money, time, or materials — that it becomes difficult to continue managing or providing it
The cost of building the new school strained the town's budget far beyond what was planned.
strain + budget — financial resource
Sade's unexpected hospital bills strained her savings to the point where she had to borrow money.
strain + savings + to the point where
The sudden increase in students has strained the school's classroom space and teaching resources.
Three years of drought severely strained the region's water supply during the hottest months.
The disagreement over money began to strain Christopher's relationship with his business partner.
- overstretch
specifically about exceeding capacity; common with budgets and schedules
- overtax
formal; suggests burdening beyond reasonable limits
- overload
more about volume or amount than capacity
文法句型
strain + resource
strain + something + to the limit
用法筆記
The object is always the resource being overused (budget, savings, supplies, relationship, patience, etc.), not the thing causing the problem. Frequently used in financial and organisational contexts. Can also describe interpersonal relationships that are placed under difficult pressure.