Creak under the strain
verb phrase
To feel pressure or struggle to cope with a difficult situation.
After working two jobs day and night, John began to creak under the strain.
Often appears as...
- creak under the strain of work
- creak under the strain of responsibility
Usage tips
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To feel pressure or struggle to cope with a difficult situation.
After working two jobs day and night, John began to creak under the strain.
Often appears as...
- creak under the strain of work
- creak under the strain of responsibility
Usage tips
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Imagery
Imagine something literally creaking to understand the metaphor for struggling to cope.
The old bridge seemed to creak under the strain of the heavy trucks.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
This phrase often implies emotional stress, not just physical or mental demands.
She could feel herself creak under the strain of her parents' expectations.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Remember it's a metaphor; no actual creaking sound is involved in real-life situations.
His smile began to creak under the strain of hiding his true feelings.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Imagery
Imagine something literally creaking to understand the metaphor for struggling to cope.
The old bridge seemed to creak under the strain of the heavy trucks.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
This phrase often implies emotional stress, not just physical or mental demands.
She could feel herself creak under the strain of her parents' expectations.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Remember it's a metaphor; no actual creaking sound is involved in real-life situations.
His smile began to creak under the strain of hiding his true feelings.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Imagery
Imagine something literally creaking to understand the metaphor for struggling to cope.
The old bridge seemed to creak under the strain of the heavy trucks.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional Weight
This phrase often implies emotional stress, not just physical or mental demands.
She could feel herself creak under the strain of her parents' expectations.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Literal
Remember it's a metaphor; no actual creaking sound is involved in real-life situations.
His smile began to creak under the strain of hiding his true feelings.
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