strain1 /streɪn/ ●●○ W3 noun 1 worry 焦虑 [countableC, uncountableU]WORRIED 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 → stress I couldn’t look after him anymore; the strain was too much for me. 我不能再照看他了,压力太大。
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
strain 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。
strain on It’s quite a strain on me when he’s drinking heavily. 他喝很多酒时,我就十分担心。
put/place a strain on somebody The long working hours put a severe strain on employees. 长时间工作使雇员严重焦虑。
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. 我能看出她开始承受不了压力了。
2 difficulty 困难 [countableC, uncountableU]PROBLEM 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strain on The dry summer has further increased the strain on water resources. 干旱的夏季加剧了水资源紧张的情况。
put/place (a) strain on something The flu epidemic has put a huge strain on the health service. 流感爆发给卫生部门带来巨大的压力。
strain 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 因压力大而崩溃 The party split under the strain. 在重压之下,这个政党分裂了。
3 force 力,力量 [uncountableU]HPPUSHPULL 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strain 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 something 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. 这四根柱子承受着整个结构的压力。
break/snap/collapse etc under the strain The rope snapped under the strain. 绳子被拉断了。
4 injury 损伤 [countableC, uncountableU]MIINJURE an injury to a muscle or part of your body that is caused by using it too much 〔肌肉或人体部位的〕拉伤;扭伤;劳损 Long hours working at a computer can cause eye strain. 长时间用电脑工作会引起眼睛疲劳。
The goalkeeper is still out of action with a knee strain. 守门员由于膝伤仍无法参加比赛。
► see thesaurus at injury 5 plant/animal 植物/动物 [countableC]HBTYPE a type of animal, plant, or disease 系,品系,品种,类型strain 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 品质 [singular]CHARACTER/PERSONALITY 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strain 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 [singular] formalMEANING an amount of a feeling that you can see in the way someone speaks, writes, paints etc 表达方式;口吻,语气;笔调 a strain of bitterness in Young’s later work 杨后期作品中怨愤的笔调
8 strains of something literarySOUND the sound of music being played 音乐的曲调[旋律] We sipped wine to the strains of Beethoven. 我们一边听贝多芬的旋律一边抿着葡萄酒。
n COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2adjectivesgreat/considerable/severe strainThe country’s health system is under great strain.
a terrible strainIt’s been a terrible strain.
an intolerable strain (=too great to bear)The cost of these wars put an intolerable strain on the economy.
undue strain (=too much strain)How much can you invest without putting any undue strain on your finances?
emotional strainShe has been suffering from considerable emotional strain.
financial strainThis welfare program has eased the financial strain of raising children alone.
verbsput/place (a) strain on somebody/somethingLiving with my parents put quite a strain on our marriage.
crack/collapse/buckle etc under the strain (=become unable to continue normally because of the strain)They are worried that the court system might collapse under the strain.
ease the strain (=make it less)You can do much to ease the strain of the situation for her.
phrasesbe under (a) strainClaudia could see that he was under considerable strain.
stresses and strainsHolidays help people to cope with the stresses and strains of life.
find ... strain• Others have found similar strains only in repeated samples from the same individual.• Even Lancaster found his patience strained when Douglas told him how to play his part.• She did not find Flora any strain either.• She found she was straining her ears for the musical clang of the town church bells. put/place (a) strain on something• The waiting also puts a strain on parents.• Lack of stock control Goods which can not be quickly used or sold but put strains on cash flow.• One neck exercise could damage the top of the spine while straight leg sit-ups could put strain on the back.• And the demand for vaccine has started to put a strain on supplies.• The problem is the vigorous shaking of the trunk puts a strain on the roots.• So I was there until Sean was seventeen months, which put a strain on all of us, I think.• Occupational therapists also can modify items to make it possible to use them without placing a strain on arthritic joints.