overstrain

/'ouvəstrein/
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Thân thiện
overstrain

He felt a sharp pain from overstrain after lifting the heavy box.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • Excessive physical or mental strain: A state of being subjected to too much stress, tension, or effort, often leading to fatigue or damage.
    • The condition of being overworked or pushed beyond safe limits: Refers to the result of demanding too much from a person, system, or object.

  2. Verb (transitive and intransitive):

    • To subject to excessive strain: To force or push a person, one's body, one's mind, or a thing beyond its normal or healthy limits.
    • To exert oneself or something too much: To make an excessive effort or to use something with too much force or intensity.
Usage Examples

  • Noun:

    • The constant pressure led to a state of nervous overstrain.
    • The bridge collapsed due to material overstrain from the heavy load.

  • Verb:

    • You will overstrain your muscles if you lift that heavy box without proper technique.
    • She tends to overstrain herself when studying for exams, often working through the night.
Advanced Usage

  • "to overstrain one's resources": to use one's available money, supplies, or energy to an excessive degree.

    • The small company overstrained its resources by expanding too quickly.

  • "to overstrain a relationship": to put excessive emotional or practical demands on a personal relationship.

    • Constant arguing over finances can overstrain even the strongest marriage.
Variants and Related Words

  • Overstrained (adjective): Describing something or someone that has been subjected to excessive strain.

    • He had an overstrained look in his eyes after the long crisis.

  • Strain (noun/verb): The more general term from which "overstrain" is derived, meaning to stretch or exert, or the state of being stretched.

  • Overexert (verb): A close synonym, specifically meaning to exert (oneself) too much.
Synonyms
  • Overtax: To make excessive demands on.
  • Overwork: To cause to work too hard or too long.
  • Overextend: To extend or stretch beyond a safe or reasonable point.
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Overstrain" itself is not typically used in phrasal verb constructions. The concept is usually expressed by the verb alone or with a direct object.)

Related Idioms
  • "To burn the candle at both ends": To overwork or exhaust oneself by doing too much, especially by staying up late and getting up early. This idiom describes a lifestyle that leads to overstrain.
    • If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you will eventually overstrain your health.
overstrain

He felt a sharp pain from overstrain after lifting the heavy box.

Noun
  1. too much strain
Verb
  1. strain excessively
    • He overextended himself when he accepted the additional assignment

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