pains

Universal Words noun [pl.] IDIOMS be at pains to do sth to put a lot of effort into doing sth correctly: She was at great pains to stress the advantages of the new system. for your pains (especially BrE, often ironic) as payment, reward or thanks for sth you have done: I told her what I thought and got a mouthful of abuse for my pains! take (great) pains (to do sth)