He made a sound like a man straining on the toilet.

I hope you have not strained him on our account, coming so far.

Daily life in the ghetto was straining on everyone, but especially the poor.

He also thought that Wayne's voice sounded strained on the song.

Bossy strained his back on the first day of training camp last season.

Pucky took only one man at a time, trying not to strain himself on the great spring.

He took a deep breath that strained the buttons on his shirt.

"We really strained her on the way up here."

"The missile was the final touch to a world straining on its axis."

The driver strained his eyes against the sun's glare on the windshield.