It cost him an effort not to pull the trigger.

She didn't quite kick me, but it cost her an effort not to.

Each word cost him an effort, as if he had to bring it to the surface from a terrible depth.

It cost an effort to force the picture and the emotion out of his mind.

It cost him an effort before he could give her the attention that she had claimed.

He swallowed; it had cost him an effort to speak in such a way to his mother.

He laughed, something that seemed to cost him an effort.

Each step cost her an effort of will which seemed the last possible.

The next thing cost him an effort to say, but he managed it anyway.

It cost him an effort to hold back the tears.