strain after



strain after something

[for a singer] to work very hard to reach a very high or a very low note. Don't strain after the note. Let it come naturally, like a cooling breeze. She was straining after each note as if it hurt her to sing, which it probably did.
See also: after, strain

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
Basia (1)BAH-shahPolish
PieraPYE-rahItalian
LiselotteLEE-ze-law-tə (German)Danish, Swedish, Dutch, German
Paula['pɔ:lə]
Arwel-Welsh
MauriceMAWR-is (English), mə-REES (English), mo-REES (French)English, French