English

Prepositional phrase

at pains

1. (idiomatic, with infinitive) Making careful effort (to).

   The agency has been at pains to stress that its decisions are still based on sound science.

Usage notes

• Emphasis is by using an adjective to modify "pains", commonly "great". He was at great pains to distance himself from the rumours.

Translations

Anagrams

• pinatas, taipans