strain
noun
verb
streɪn noun
1
WORRY
焦虑
worry that is caused by having to deal with a problem or work too hard over a long period of time 焦虑; 紧张; C,U
I couldn’t look after him any more; the strain was too much for me.
我不能再照看他了; 我太紧张了。
Did you find the job a strain ?
你觉得这份工作紧张吗？
the stresses and strains of police life
警察生活的紧张和压力
[+ for ]
The trial has been a terrible strain for both of us.
法庭审判令我们两人都非常焦虑。
[+ on ]
It’s quite a strain on me when he’s drinking heavily.
他喝酒过多时，我就十分焦虑担心。
put/place a strain on sb
The long working hours put a severe strain on employees.
工作时间长使雇员产生很严重的焦虑情绪。
under (a) strain
I know you’ve been under a lot of strain lately.
我知道你最近压力很大。
crack/collapse/buckle etc under the strain (become unable to deal with a problem or work ) 因压力大而崩溃
I could see that she was beginning to crack under the strain.
我能看出在压力下她开始受不住了。
2
DIFFICULTY
困难
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 问题，困难; 负担; 紧张 C,U
[+ on ]
The dry summer has further increased the strain on water resources.
干旱的夏季使水水资源紧张的情况进一步加剧。
put/place (a) strain on sth
The flu epidemic has put a huge strain on the health service.
流感爆发给医疗机构带来巨大的压力。
[+ in ]
The attack has led to strains in the relationship between the two countries.
袭击事件导致两国关系紧张。
under (a) strain His marriage was under strain.
他的婚姻关系很紧张。
break/crack/collapse etc under the strain
The party split under the strain.
在重压之下，这个政党分裂了。
3
FORCE
力，力量
a situation in which something is being pulled or pushed, or is holding weight, and so might break or become damaged 拉力; 张力; 推力 U
[+ on ]
The strain on the cables supporting the bridge is enormous.
这些支撑桥梁的钢缆所承受的拉力很大。
put/place (a) strain on sth
Some of these exercises put too much strain on the back muscles.
这些健身动作中有些令背部肌肉负担过重。
These four posts take the strain of the whole structure.
这四根柱子承受了整个结构的压力。
break/snap/collapse etcunder the strain
The rope snapped under the strain.
绳子被拉断了。
4
INJURY
损伤
an injury to a muscle or part of your body that is caused by using it too much 〔肌肉的〕拉伤，扭伤 C,U
Long hours working at a computer can cause eye strain.
长时间使用计算机工作会引起视疲劳。
The goalkeeper is still out of action with a knee strain.
守门员由于膝盖受伤仍无法参加比赛。
5
PLANT/ANIMAL
植物/动物
a type of animal, plant, or disease 系，品系，品种，类型 C
[+ of ]
different strains of wheat
不同品种的小麦
a new strain of the flu virus
一种新型的流感病毒
6
QUALITY
气质特点
a particular quality which people have, especially one that is passed from parents to children 〔尤指遗传的〕性格倾向，气质，性情 singular 单数
[+ of ]
There’s a strain of madness in his family.
他的家族有疯癫的倾向。
7
WAY OF SAYING STH
说话的方式
an amount of a feeling that you can see in the way someone speaks, writes, paints etc [正式] 表达方式; 口吻，语气; 笔调 singular 单数 | formal
a strain of bitterness in Young’s later work
杨后期作品中悲伤的笔调
8
strains of sth
the sound of music being played [文] 音乐的曲调 （旋律 ） literary
We sipped wine to the strains of Beethoven.
我们一边听贝多芬的旋律一边小口抿着酒。
verb
9
INJURE
损伤
to injure a muscle or part of your body by using it too much or making it work too hard 拉伤，扭伤，损伤 T
I’ve strained a muscle in my leg.
我拉伤了腿部肌肉。
You’ll strain your eyes trying to read in this light.
在这样的光线下看书会弄坏眼睛的。
10
EFFORT
努力
to try very hard to do something using all your strength or ability 使劲，竭力，用尽全力 I,T
strain (sth) to do sth
She was straining to keep her head above the water.
她竭尽全力将头露出水面。
[+ for ]
Bill choked and gasped, straining for air.
比尔窒息了，喘着气，拼命想呼吸。
strain your ears/eyes (try very hard to hear or see) 努力地听/看
I strained my ears, listening for any sound in the silence of the cave.
我竖起耳朵，听寂静的山洞里有些什么声音。
11
LIQUID
液体
to separate solid things from a liquid by pouring the mixture through something with very small holes in it 滤，过滤; T
She strained the pasta.
她把意大利面滤干水。
12
DIFFICULTY
困难
to cause difficulties for something by making too much work or too many problems which it cannot deal with easily 使过劳; 使不堪承受 T
The increased costs will certainly strain our finances.
增加的开支肯定会使我们的财政紧张。
The incident has strained relations between the two countries.
该事件使两国之间的关系紧张起来。
I felt that my patience was being strained to the limit .
我感到我的耐性已经到了极限。
13
PULL/PUSH
拉/推
to pull hard at something or push hard against something 使劲拉 （推 ），绷紧 I
[+ against ]
Buddy’s huge gut strained against the buttons on his shirt.
巴迪的大肚子把衬衫的纽扣绷得紧紧的。
[+ at ]
a dog straining at its lead
一条用力拽着牵狗绳的狗
14
strain every nerve
to try as hard as possible to do something 全力以赴
He was straining every nerve to impress the judges.
他竭尽全力想给法官留下好印象。
15
be straining at the leash
to be eager to be allowed to do something 急欲获准做某事，跃跃欲试
There are 30,000 troops in the area, all straining at the leash.
该地区有 30,000 名士兵，都在枕戈待旦。
16
not strain yourself
to not work too hard or do too much physical activity 不使自己过度劳累
Don’t strain yourself.
不要累坏自己。