This constitutional mechanism has been strained by recent events.

I just noticed his eyes been looking sort of strained lately.

And I hear there've been an awful lot strained in Warlock lately.

The developed countries too have not been spared from this crisis, as the prolonged recession has greatly strained their social security systems.

The health system, already strained by high infant mortality, high fertility rates and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, has been completely destroyed.

Turkey s links with Israel, for example, have been strained by Israeli investment in Kurdistan.

It's being strained right now.

Nowhere has this phenomenon been stronger than in Turkey, where those military escapades have strained the two countries strategic alliance almost to the breaking point.

Brotherly tempers started to get strained.

In some countries, debt servicing has strained valuable resources that could otherwise be channelled to development.

The increase in workload has greatly affected the Section and strained its current level of resources.

I think I strained my shoulder last night.

23. The rapid growth of peace keeping activities has strained the supporting management and administrative services to the limit.

Nevertheless, the rapid pace of urbanization has strained the capacity of Governments to provide adequate services to urban dwellers and the number of persons living in slums has been rising, amounting to about 900 million today.

And, for nearly a decade, China has been urged to undertake reforms to redress these economic patterns, which have undermined the welfare of ordinary Chinese and strained the global trading system.

I strained the old bean to meet this emergency.

This has been officially admitted, so why reopen the ghastly business now, at a time when rescinding the apology would make Japan s already strained relations with China and South Korea many times worse?

During his reign, relations with the British became increasingly strained.

24. UNPROFOR apos s resources and equipment are badly strained.

You strained a couple of ligaments. Don't jump like that!

I'm strained already from carrying that big, fat poodle around.

As with all the former Soviet Republics, Armenia apos s economy has been badly strained by the changes which followed the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the difficult transition to a market economy.

In fact, in many countries, the government s capacity is already strained.

Her kids left her, her relationship with her husband is strained.

We are aware that your heart is strained by what they say .

We are aware that your heart is strained by what they say .

During the reporting period, the political situation in the country remained strained.

376. Urban infrastructure and services are often severely strained from rapid urbanization.

There is no doubt in my mind that the prolonged financial crisis has tarnished the reputation and strained the credibility of the United Nations.

Instead, relations have been strained by the continuing refusal of Australia s Labour Party government to sell uranium to energy starved India for its civilian nuclear program.

Despite the signing of the treaty, relations between the two countries remained strained.

You want to leave the neighborhood, you want to change the strained faces

So we strained it from the edges, and we held it by cables.

The expansion of United Nations peacekeeping activities, both in numbers and in types of activity, has strained both the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and OIOS.

114. In spite of these unfavourable circumstances, indeed partly because of the strained cash situation, the Administration has pursued its efforts to enhance its productivity.

The Turkish led flotilla which attempted to break the blockade of Gaza has strained Turkish Israeli relations, while gaining Turkey much respect in the Arab world.

DAKAR The world economic downturn and financial market tremors have strained budgets across Africa.

The recent violence in Khartoum and Juba undoubtedly strained intercommunal relations in those two cities.

As a result, the existing law is here on strained terms with an established practice.

In such a state of affairs, dialogue between North and South is difficult and strained.

I know I should have turned them away, but the quality of mercy's not strained.

President Barack Obama recently journeyed to Moscow in order to reset strained United States Russian ties.

There is little doubt that the series of attacks on African individuals have disgraced India in front of the international community and has strained its ties with African countries.

The combination of this water distribution policy and over pumping in some areas has severely strained the availability of Palestinian water resources and their ability to meet growing needs.

Progress has been slow and it has been halting.