The phrase "a strained look" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone's facial expression that indicates tension, discomfort, or worry.
Example: "When she heard the news, a strained look crossed her face, revealing her inner turmoil."
Alternatives: "a tense expression" or "a pained look."
"Don't you remember...?" he would ask with a pained voice, a strained look about the eyes, having temporarily forgotten that you can't really remember things from before around the age of 3. "Pity," he would say.
Another sits in a contorted manner supporting the weight on his elbow, while another figure squats with his knees wide apart and a strained look on his face.
Sanders, who had just said the phrase "African American" narrowed his gaze, adjusting his glasses with a strained look on his face.
Then I find myself in a restaurant, eating Libby strained peas, Libby strained carrots, and I'm sitting across from a strained looking Libby.
For example, he'd long cultivated a tendency to pause with a kind of strained look, as if groping for words, gathering strength, before coming out with some mellifluous pronouncement; observing this, one counselor noted that he seemed "on the verge of belching" and was "very impressed with self".
His face has a singularly peaceful and calm expression, the strained look of tension is gone.
Even without the frayed straw hat, you'd recognize him at once from the strained look around the eyes; the look of a man keeping up appearances at all costs.
without appearing physically strained look at you as if wondering what sort of performance enhancing supplements you've been guzzling.
Maybe it's the strained look of your country weekend houseguests, bent over and hobbling on the way in to breakfast.
It helps releasing your voice and lessens the "strained look" on your face.
