take (great) pains
idiom
: to try hard (to do something)
He took (great) pains to explain the situation to us.
Examples of take (great) pains in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That said, if Russia is on the road to postimperial rule, the AASC would take pains not to exclude the country’s new leadership or to reopen old wounds.
—
Lise Morjé Howard, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2023
And, when the Vandals are together in public, the police take pains to stay out of their way.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 June 2024
Operating systems take pains to randomize and conceal these locations so they can’t be used in software exploits.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2024
Notably, however, the Ukrainian armed forces take pains to promise humane treatment for all who surrender.
—Olga Oliker, Foreign Affairs, 21 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for take (great) pains 
Lise Morjé Howard, Foreign Affairs, 20 Mar. 2023
And, when the Vandals are together in public, the police take pains to stay out of their way.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 18 June 2024
Operating systems take pains to randomize and conceal these locations so they can’t be used in software exploits.
—Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 11 Apr. 2024
Notably, however, the Ukrainian armed forces take pains to promise humane treatment for all who surrender.
—Olga Oliker, Foreign Affairs, 21 Nov. 2022
See all Example Sentences for take (great) pains
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'take (great) pains.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Take (great) pains.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20%28great%29%20pains. Accessed 30 Sep. 2024.
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