straining a point

Verb

strain a point (third-person singular simple present strains a point, present participle straining a point, simple past and past participle strained a point)

1. (idiomatic) To make a special effort; especially, to do a degree of violence to some principle or to one's own feelings.
   • I want you to strain a point, Mr Bellingham, and to do me a service which I assure you you shall never have any cause to regret. I want you to wire instructions down the line to detain this Arab and his companions and to keep them in custody until the receipt of further instructions.1897, Richard Marsh, The Beetle