Its health and education systems, although badly strained, continue to function.

The situation has improved somewhat since then, but remains badly strained.

That would in turn badly strain the courts and prisons.

A loved one's failure to attend an event can badly strain a relationship.

In addition, our working capital has been badly strained.

At the time of the bombing, our relations with him were badly strained, but discussion was possible through back channels.

She said her going public with this information angered Gleason and badly strained their relationship.

True would carry me, but that's impossible: his left hock is badly strained.

The tail-tubes didn't give way, though they seem to be badly strained.

But now he must wait, after badly straining his rib cage during batting practice on Tuesday.

Yet the timing of the forthcoming announcement is presumably geared to coincide with China's efforts to improve badly strained relations with the United States.

But they said the main goal would be to provide relief to badly strained state coffers.

A similar resolution in Congress last month badly strained relations with Washington.

The exchange reflected the expanding cooperation between the Middle East neighbors after several years of badly strained relations linked to the Palestinian uprising.

That could help make NATO more relevant to the post-cold-war world and would ease the burden on America's badly strained military.

For the Clinton administration, the report's publication assists its effort to repair badly strained relations with Switzerland.

Whether or not the loan goes through, it demonstrates the lengths to which Tokyo is willing to go to improve badly strained relations with the United States.

Everyone had blisters or badly strained muscles.

The Chairman showed signs of a badly strained patience.

Due to good fortune and to Paul, none of the knights or spectators had been killed, although most had burns, bruises, or at least badly strained muscles.