stress
noun
uk/stres/ us [ C or U ]
a feeling of worry and unhappiness because you have too much work or too many problems to deal with:
Successful managers need to be able to make tough decisions under stress.
She was off work for four weeks with a stress-related illness.
More women are now working full-time, with all the stresses and strains that brings.
Workplace culture is an important factor in levels of stress.
stress management/reduction
work/workplace/occupational stress
cope with/deal with/handle stress Firms need to find ways of helping executives deal with stress.
experience/suffer from stress According to the survey, over half a million workers believed they suffered from stress.
reduce/relieve/ease stress Flexible work policies can reduce stress.
be under stress People who are under stress are more likely to have accidents at work.
cause (sb) stress Delays in payment cause stress and financial hardship.
a cause/source of stress Work is the third most frequent cause of stress.
take the stress out of sth Satellite-navigation systems take the stress out of driving.
[ C or U ]
problems caused by a difficult situation:
financial/fiscal stress
be under stress Many of our businesses are under stress right now because of the slow economy.
stress(es) on sth Disappointing figures have once again highlighted stresses on the public finances.
place/put/reduce stress on sth A new transmission line would reduce stress on electricity systems across the mid-Atlantic region.
place/lay/put stress on sth
if an official speech or report places, lays, or puts stress on something, it emphasizes it:
We should develop a more dynamic conception of equality, placing more stress on opportunity.
stress
verb
uk/stres/ us [ T ]
to emphasize something:
We want to stress how careful we are when assessing credit risk.
It is important to stress that economic and social cohesion is a political priority of the European Union.
With the growth of the Internet, I cannot stress how important it is for new businesses to act fast in registering trademarks.
The report stressed that by proactively dealing with climate-change issues, companies can earn a voice in planning policy.
stress the importance/need The group has spent much of its time stressing the need for debt relief for Africa.
be keen/at pains/quick to stress After the budget, the Chancellor was keen to stress how the average earner with two children will be better off.
[ I ] informal
to become very worried or unhappy because you have too much work or too many problems to deal with:
Try not to stress too much about things.