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

Wicked may take great pains to recreate the musty Britain of the 1920s, but don’t be fooled by the cloche hats and frilly frocks. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024

Some people take great pains to opt out as much as possible. —Lindsey Witmer Collins, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

As such, take pains not to muddy this one of three batters with anything that could detract from or mar what should remain the purity and integrity of this layer. —Emily Reynolds Bergh, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

Both films take great pains to point out the backbreaking work that goes into producing your meal. —Tim Carman, Washington Post, 29 Nov. 2023

One wrinkle for people who take pains to optimize their airflow: The LCD screens are only visible on one side of each fan. —Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2023

In the weeks leading up to the test, students take pains to eat and sleep right, like athletes before a big game. —Andrew Jeong, Washington Post, 21 Dec. 2023

Biden administration officials take pains to note that this time around, tax incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act are intended to attract private investors and that the incentives cost the government only when solar panels are sold and installed. —Jonathan Weisman Christian Monterrosa, New York Times, 27 Nov. 2023

Also, one political regime might take pains to restore an ecosystem, only for another to come along and destroy it again. —Matt Simon, WIRED, 14 Dec. 2023