at pains: meaning & examples
Open in appLanguage: English
Meanings:
- Taking great care or making a deliberate and often conscientious effort to do something; being careful to ensure a particular result.
Examples
BetaShe was at pains to explain the complex process clearly to everyone in the meeting.
Ella se esforzó mucho para explicar claramente el proceso complejo a todos en la reunión.
The teacher was at pains to ensure that every student understood the lesson before moving on.
El profesor se tomó muchas molestias para asegurarse de que cada estudiante entendiera la lección antes de continuar.
He was at pains not to offend anyone during the sensitive negotiations.
Se esforzó mucho para no ofender a nadie durante las negociaciones delicadas.
- Feeling or showing distress, difficulty, or discomfort in attempting to do something; being troubled or put to effort by a task (less common usage).
Examples
BetaJane was at pains to explain the complex procedure to the new interns, despite the time pressure.
Jane hizo un gran esfuerzo por explicar el procedimiento complejo a los nuevos pasantes, a pesar de la presión del tiempo.
He had been at pains all morning trying to fix the old engine but still couldn't identify the problem.
Él había estado esforzándose toda la mañana tratando de arreglar el motor viejo pero aún no podía identificar el problema.
Were you really at pains to complete the report on time, or did you just rush through it last night?
¿Realmente te esforzaste para terminar el informe a tiempo, o simplemente lo hiciste apresuradamente anoche?
- Going to considerable trouble in order to achieve or avoid something.
Examples
BetaThe committee was at pains to ensure every voice was heard before making a decision.
El comité se esforzó mucho para asegurarse de que cada voz fuera escuchada antes de tomar una decisión.
She will be at pains to avoid offending anyone during the delicate negotiations tomorrow.
Ella se esforzará mucho para evitar ofender a alguien durante las delicadas negociaciones de mañana.
They had been at pains to prepare a flawless presentation to impress the investors.
Se habían esforzado mucho para preparar una presentación impecable para impresionar a los inversionistas.
Examples:
- EN: Then where would the justice be you're so at pains to preserve?ES: Entonces ¿dónde estaría la justicia que se esfuerza tanto en preservar?
- EN: As you have been at pains to point out to me.ES: Como te preocupaste por hacerme ver.
- EN: Indeed, and the Lord Chamberlain was at pains to stress that the spirit of the occasion will be quite different.ES: Así es, y el Lord Chambelán recalcó expresamente que el espíritu de la ocasión será muy diferente.
- EN: Candidly, of late, I'm at pains to be certain which voices are within me and which without.ES: Francamente, últimamente me cuesta estar seguro de qué voces están conmigo y cuáles no.
- EN: Often talked about as some kind of transcendental philosopher, Rothko was at pains to deny ever being a mystic.ES: A menudo calificado de ser una especie de filósofo trascendental, a Rothko le costaba explicar que él no había sido nunca un místico.
- EN: Only, the killer was at pains to disguise that fact.ES: - ¿Qué es lo que dijo? - Envenenamiento. Por sales de talio.
- EN: When he brought me the evidence against the terrorist cell, DCI Gates was at pains to point out the sensitivity of his position regarding your investigation.ES: Y cuando me trajo la prueba contra la célula terrorista, el detective Gates se molestó mucho en señalar lo delicado de su posición con respecto a vuestra investigación.
- EN: As you know, sir, No 10 have been at pains to discourage anything that might disrupt our close relationship with President KarzakES: Como usted sabe, señor, me he esforzado para desalentar todo lo que... pueda afectar nuestra estrecha relación con el presidente Karsak.
- EN: Which is why I was at pains to point out that you didn't pay in cash, 'cause that would have seemed suspicious.ES: Es por eso que me apresuré en señalar que usted no pague en efectivo, Porque podría parecer sospechoso
- EN: The prosecution has been at pains to explain what has happened.ES: La fiscalía se ha esforzado en explicar lo que ha sucedido.
- EN: We're fudged! When your resident advisor told me what had happened, I was at pains to understand what you were thinking, Xanthippe.ES: Cuando tu consejera me informó, me costó entender, Xanthippe.
- EN: Look, mate, Sampson was at pains to point out she doesn't want to jeopardise our working relationship, guarantees complete discretion.ES: Mira, tío, Sampson me ha dejado muy claro que no quiere poner en peligro nuestra relación laboral, nos garantiza total discreción.
- EN: Let us be at pains, Mr. Crane.ES: Esforcémonos, Sr. Crane.
- EN: It was as though he were conscious of a Byronic aura, which he considered to be in bad taste and was at pains to suppress.ES: Era como si fuese consciente de estar rodeado por un aura byroniana que consideraba de mal gusto, y hacía lo posible por suprimir.
- EN: The prosecution and court are at pains to meaintain the utmist objectivityES: Tanto la Fiscalía Federal como este Tribunal se esfuerzan por una obejtividad extrema.
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Sourced from Wiktionary
Source: Wiktionary