pains
111take great pains (to do something) — go to/take great pains (to do something) to try very hard to do something. I went to great pains to get this record for you …
112take (great) pains to (do something) — to try very hard to do something. We took great pains to insure that no one felt left out. Related vocabulary: go to great lengths to do something …
113growing pains — If a business is going through some growing pains, it is experiencing the typical problems that arise when a company becomes stronger and bigger …
114growing pains — grow′ing pains n. pl. 1) pat dull, quasi rheumatic pains of varying degree in the limbs during childhood and adolescence, often popularly associated with the process of growing 2) pat emotional difficulties experienced during adolescence and… …
115if you gently touch a nettle it’ll sting you for your pains; grasp it like a lad of mettle, an’ as soft as silk remains — The metaphorical phrase to grasp the nettle, to tackle a difficulty boldly, is often found. 1578 LYLY Euphues I. 212 True it is Philautus that he which toucheth ye nettle tenderly, is soonest stoung. 1660 W. SECKER Nonsuch Professor I. 156 Sin is …
116growing pains — ► PLURAL NOUN 1) pains occurring in the limbs of young children. 2) difficulties experienced in the early stages of an enterprise …
117growing pains — n. 1. recurrent pains in the joints and muscles, esp. of the legs, of growing children: a loose term with no precise medical meaning 2. difficulties experienced in the early development of a person, project, etc …
118take pains — verb try very hard to do something (Freq. 3) • Syn: ↑be at pains • Hypernyms: ↑endeavor, ↑endeavour, ↑strive • Verb Frames: Somebody s to INFINITIVE …
119for one's pains — (usu ironic) As a reward for or result of trouble taken • • • Main Entry: ↑pain * * * informal as an unfairly bad return for efforts or trouble he was sued for his pains …
120be at pains to do something — phrase to try very hard to do something The solicitor was at pains to explain the effects of his client’s plea. Thesaurus: to try hard to do or get somethingsynonym Main entry: pain …