impose a strain

USAGE SUMMARY

"impose a strain" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It means to put pressure or stress on something or someone. Example: The long hours and tight deadlines imposed a strain on the project team, causing a decrease in productivity and an increase in tension among team members.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

On Tuesday, Admiral Mullen made clear that he expected the military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to impose a strain on the armed services for years to come.

The New York Times

These defects and excess atoms produce a stress field in this region and impose a strain in the system [22].

International Nano Letters

In the years to come, the aging of the population will increasingly impose a strain on health care systems worldwide.

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The treatment costs of smokers imposed a strain on Medicaid budgets, they claimed, that the companies ought to pay back.

Forbes

We propose that hAGT imposes a strain on the DNA duplex and searches for DNA regions where the native structure is destabilized.

Journal of Molecular Biology

In addition one cylinder of each material was instrumented with two strain gauges in order to determine the elastic modulus, and test were performed by imposing a strain rate of 1 mm/min.

International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials

This, in turn, leads to a significant economic burden because of time lost from work and imposes a strain on the health care system.

American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy

Imports of bullion impose a massive strain on its balance of payments—amounting to $54 billion in the year to March 2013.

The Economist

As the story shifts its point of view, the town's commandant and Gestapo chief prepare to eliminate the local Jews, fearing, in a bit of grim irony, that mass murder will impose a "nervous strain" on their men.

The New York Times - Books

He is scornful of US-backed plans to raise yet more security forces, such as a new National Guard, that would be more inclusive of Sunni Arabs "Soon we are going to have 1.5 million people under arms which will impose a tremendous strain on the economy," he said.

Independent

A testing configuration on the basis of a 97 mm diameter and 8 m long Nylon Hopkinson pressure bar is proposed to host this large sandwich sample and to impose a nominal strain of 70% to multilayer sandwich samples of 45.5 mm long.

International Journal of Solids and Structures

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "impose a strain", consider the specific type of strain you are describing (e.g., financial, emotional, physical) to provide clarity and context.

Common error

While "impose a strain" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "exert pressure" or "place a burden" for greater impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impose a strain" functions as a verb phrase, indicating an action that creates pressure or stress. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a standard construction. It describes how something affects another entity, either physically or metaphorically.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impose a strain" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, as verified by Ludwig AI, that describes the act of causing pressure or stress. It is versatile, appearing in both formal and informal contexts, but is particularly frequent in News & Media and Science. While interchangeable with alternatives like "put a strain" or "place a burden", it's important to consider the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to be mindful of overuse and vary your language for greater impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put a strain

Similar in meaning, but uses the verb 'put' instead of 'impose', making it slightly less formal.

place a burden

This alternative emphasizes the act of adding a weight or responsibility, whereas "impose a strain" emphasizes the resulting tension.

add pressure

Focuses on increasing pressure, where "impose a strain" highlights the impact of such pressure.

create stress

This alternative shifts the focus to the generation of stress, rather than the act of imposing pressure.

generate pressure

This alternative concentrates on the creation of pressure, rather than its impact as a strain.

exert pressure

This alternative focuses on the application of force or influence, differing from "impose a strain" which highlights the resulting stress.

cause tension

This alternative highlights the resulting tension or conflict, differing from "impose a strain" which can also refer to physical stress.

inflict stress

Highlights the act of causing stress, where "impose a strain" is broader and can include physical or metaphorical stresses.

place demands

This emphasizes the making of requests or requirements, where "impose a strain" can apply to non-request situations.

exact a toll

This alternative focuses on the consequences or cost of something, while "impose a strain" focuses on the initial pressure.

FAQs

How can I use "impose a strain" in a sentence?

You can use "impose a strain" to describe how something creates pressure or stress on something else. For example, "The new regulations impose a strain on small businesses."

What can I say instead of "impose a strain"?

You can use alternatives like "put a strain", "place a burden", or "exert pressure" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "impose a strain" or "put a strain"?

"Impose a strain" and "put a strain" are quite similar. "Impose a strain" may sound slightly more formal, but both are generally acceptable in most contexts.

What's the difference between "impose a strain" and "cause stress"?

"Impose a strain" suggests a direct pressure or burden being applied, whereas "cause stress" focuses on the resulting feeling or state of being stressed. The former implies an action, while the latter describes a consequence.