The relationship between him and his father was strained at best.

I strained at the thought, but it would not come.

His voice strained at the effort and she looked back under her arm.

Just before the end of term she had strained her back at college.

Richard continued to strain at his side of the box.

She strained at the structure as it passed her, every sense open.

The security chief thought for a moment, eyes straining at her station.

He held on, straining at the line to speed things up.

I didn't want my parents straining at the issue for another winter.

The light strained through it differently at different times of the day.