By not straining to show he's up to the demands of a major picture, he succeeds.

Beneath her hand, she could feel his muscles growing tight, as if straining to fight off death.

The message the public is straining to hear is not reported on the evening news.

Not bright, but bright enough to see everything without straining.

Kirk caught up with the doctor, then stood straining to make sense from the words. "

As they watched, the man tried to raise himself, straining at the ropes that bound his arms.

The huge form shifted, straining at the links, but to no avail.

The boy stood straining against the apish man's grip on his arm, but did not try to free himself.

But just what the void might look like has physicists straining their imaginations.

The knights kept silent watch from the battlements, straining to hear or see something - anything.

But Ms. Watts should guard against straining for dramatic effects.

The "Gunner" walked over to where they stood straining their eyes out into the impenetrable darkness.

Her straining toward the gel eased, and her eyes focused on him.

"What the hell," he said, and moved the handgrip back to the position where the truck seemed to be straining forward the hardest.

He was inconsistent - perhaps straining too hard for wickets - and runs came relatively easily.

Hampton did not pitch a game during spring training after straining his left oblique muscle.

Nigel had found he rather liked the idea of getting back his ward without straining his resources.

She was straining toward his mouth before it ever enveloped the hard, throbbing nipple.

My dogs were straining against the sledge now and yelping as if badly hurt.

You come upon it as an artist should, With rich-eyed passion and with straining heart.

A moment later he sprang forth, straining and pulsing, and ready to take her.

The silence had fallen heavily again, and she found herself straining for some other sound than the soft padding of her own boots.

Lying as shown, swing the top leg forwards and backwards 10 times each way without straining.

The arrangements refer to the Motown originals without straining to be copies.

"The problem," whispered Sam, straining on the ground, "is that you're not reasonable or logical!

But as a mother for 15 months, she is feeling a strain.

The strain can be brought on by other reading, as well.

But why such strains come and go is not known.

Too much reading can put a strain on the eyes.

The strain had been too much for all of them.

The last few days have been a strain on us.

Had the strain of the decision been too much for him?

Perhaps the strain was getting to him as well, poor little guy.

However, you were under a great deal of strain at the time.

Put your free hand on the bed to take the strain.

The strain he's been under with one thing and another.

And God, what had the strain been like for her?

Over time, the son saw the strain on the father.

Then she turned around and told me how much strain I'd been under.

I've been under a great deal of strain and I took too much.

The strain of the situation was too much for her, however.

The strain from those two years was beginning to show.

You've got to stand for some of the strain and risk.

Even then his heart must have been under a strain.

I think the strain was simply too much for him.

He tried to keep the strain out of his voice.

She should have been able to see the strain he was under.

Only now and then were strains of the music coming through.

I heard strains of music coming from within the house.

But, of course, you must remember she is probably under a great strain.

She strained against his hands when they moved over her.

He strained but could not remember the name of his father's God.

I strained to see the girl's face a little better.

My head came up and now I strained to hear too.

The friends had to strain to hear her low voice.

He strained to see me again, finally found my eyes.

His hands turned white as he strained to get at me.

But too often you had to strain to understand them.

He strained to look and keep his head down at the same time.

The girl strained her eyes into the night before them.

I strained my eyes to make sense of what she was saying.

The relationship between him and his father was strained at best.

He strained every sense to hear what was taking place outside.

His voice was so low she had to strain to hear.

I strained my eyes, trying to see where she was.

He strained to hear what the two men were saying.

I got hold and strained away, but with no results.

He strained to hear what she was saying, but another voice cut the night.

He strained to hear what they were saying, but could make out no words.

One must strain to hear him - his voice is nearly gone.

That plan seemed to have strained the two men's relationship.

They tried to make small talk, but it was strained.

I'm already straining to give them an hour now and then.

I strained at the thought, but it would not come.

He strained to hear better, but it was no use.

So it's easier to hang around maintaining a sense of belonging, but not straining oneself too much.