take pains

take pains
• to take pains
• be at pains
to take the trouble to get something or do something; to try to do something

... a queer, penetrating look mingled, too, with intelligent interest which, as our eyes met, he took pains to conceal. (A. Cronin)

They took pains not to stand next to one another or begin any private discussion (J. Wain)

Now that her means were adequate she took great pains with her dress (W. S. Maugham)

She had taken pains to foster his suspicion. (W. S. Maugham)

He never gave a glance at the room I had been at pains to make pleasing to the eye. (W. S. Maugham)


Idioms and examples. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • take pains — index endeavor, strive Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • take pains —    If you take pains to do something, you try very hard or make a special effort to do it as well as possible.     Great pains were taken to ensure the security of the athletes …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • take pains — verb try very hard to do something (Freq. 3) • Syn: ↑be at pains • Hypernyms: ↑endeavor, ↑endeavour, ↑strive • Verb Frames: Somebody s to INFINITIVE …   Useful english dictionary

  • take pains — try hard, take extra time or care    Mr. and Mrs. Wilson take pains to find families that are truly in need …   English idioms

  • take pains — {v. phr.} To do something very carefully and thoroughly. * /She had taken pains to see that her guests had everything that they could possibly want./ * /She always takes pains with her appearance./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take pains — {v. phr.} To do something very carefully and thoroughly. * /She had taken pains to see that her guests had everything that they could possibly want./ * /She always takes pains with her appearance./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • take\ pains — v. phr. To do something very carefully and thoroughly. She had taken pains to see that her guests had everything that they could possibly want. She always takes pains with her appearance …   Словарь американских идиом

  • take pains — make a great effort …   English contemporary dictionary

  • pains — noun an effortful attempt to attain a goal (Freq. 4) • Syn: ↑striving, ↑nisus, ↑strain • Derivationally related forms: ↑strenuous (for: ↑strain), ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • pains — n. trouble 1) to go to, spare no, take pains to + inf. (she took great pains to get her message across) physical suffering 2) (med.) labor pains 3) growing * * * take pains to + inf. (she took great pains to get her message across) [ physical… …   Combinatory dictionary

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