It usually took the form of groaning over such laborious jobs as marking papers, making out long lists and so on.

"Everything's turned into a political show trial," he groaned over the phone when Keene was finally able to talk to him.

"There must be some version of me sitting out there now groaning over my nomination."

Janice Camby said she heard her son groan over the phone.

'I knew I was pushing my luck,' he groaned over the phone.

Monday morning, Joe groaned over the first truck load of clothes to the washer.

As usual, there was much moaning and groaning from him over the phone.

A lift was lowering itself like an obese person, groaning over the task.

The detective groaned and said over the telephone, "I knew you were going to get me in jail sooner or later."

However miserable his regrets, simply groaning over his situation was going to be no help.