Be At Pains (Verb)
Meaning
Try very hard to do something.
Classification
Verbs of political and social activities and events.
Examples
- She was at pains to explain the complex issue to her students in simple terms.
- The new employee was at pains to make a good impression on his first day at work.
- They were at pains to recycle every plastic material they used in their daily life.
- The diplomats were at pains to resolve the conflict without resorting to military action.
- The artist was at pains to capture the essence of the subject's emotions in the painting.