strain every nerve

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English

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Verb

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strain every nerve (third-person singular simple present strains every nerve, present participle straining every nerve, simple past and past participle strained every nerve)

  1. To make every possible effort to do something; to do one's utmost.
    • 1960 March, Cecil J. Allen, “Locomotive Running Past and Present”, in Trains Illustrated, page 174:
      In this very great emergency one might have expected the Western Region, notwithstanding the considerable difficulties involved in finding paths for a greatly increased Paddington-Wolverhampton train service, to strain every nerve to keep passengers in the trains rather than letting them stray away to the accelerated road services.

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