at pains

prepositional phrase

Making careful effort (to).

“He was at great pains to distance himself from the rumours.”

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. idiomaticwith infinitiveMaking careful effort (to).

    He was at great pains to distance himself from the rumours.

    2 more examples

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

    She was at some pains to remind the others to read the instructions.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
go to painstake pains

Translations

French faire tout son possible pour
  • faire tout son possible pourmaking careful effort
Polish starać się, postarać się
  • starać sięmaking careful effort
  • postarać sięmaking careful effort
Swedish bemöda sig om att
  • bemöda sig om attmaking careful effort
Cite this entry
APA

at pains. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20pains

MLA

“at pains.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20pains. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “at pains,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/at%20pains.

Source: at pains on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.