strain every nerve/sinew
strain every nerve
To expend a maximum amount of effort to do something. I strained every nerve to reach that book on the top shelf, and I still couldn't get it.
See also: every, nerve, strain
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
strain every nerve
make every possible effort.Nerve is used here in an earlier sense of ‘tendon or sinew’.
See also: every, nerve, strain
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
strain every ˈnerve/ˈsinew (to do something)
(written) try as hard as you can (to do something): He strained every sinew to help us, but didn’t succeed.See also: every, nerve, strain
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
strain every nerve
To make every effort.
See also: every, nerve, strain
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
- strain every nerve
- expend
- expend (something) for (something)
- expend for
- fall over (oneself) to (do something)
- fall over oneself
- fall over yourself
- fall over yourself to do something
- fall all over (oneself)
- fall all over oneself