labor pains
C1formal, medical
Definition
Meaning
The painful contractions of the uterus experienced by a woman during childbirth.
A period of intense difficulty or struggle preceding the successful completion of a major project, event, or creative endeavor.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term is most literal in medical contexts. The extended, metaphorical meaning is widely understood, especially in journalism and political commentary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK English spells it 'labour pains', while US English uses 'labor pains'. Both are compound nouns.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties. The metaphorical use is equally common.
Frequency
Frequency is moderate and context-specific. More common in texts related to medicine, biology, and political analysis.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[subject] experienced labor painsThe labor pains of [abstract process][subject] was in labor painsVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The labor pains of democracy”
- “The labor pains of a new idea”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rarely used literally. Metaphor: 'The company went through serious labor pains before the successful product launch.'
Academic
Common in medical and biological literature. Also in political science/history for metaphorical use.
Everyday
Primarily understood in its literal sense. The metaphorical use is understood but less frequent.
Technical
Standard medical term in obstetrics.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She began to labour painfully.
American English
- She began to labor painfully.
adverb
British English
- She breathed labour-painfully through the contraction.
American English
- She breathed labor-painfully through the contraction.
adjective
British English
- The labour-pain stage lasted several hours.
American English
- The labor-pain stage lasted several hours.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The midwife said the labor pains were getting stronger.
- She went to the hospital when her labor pains started.
- After hours of intense labor pains, she finally gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
- The political reform was undergoing its initial labor pains.
- The metaphorical labor pains preceding the constitutional convention were evident in the fierce public debate.
- Analgesia can significantly mitigate the sensation of labor pains without slowing the process.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LABOR = work, PAINS = hurts. The hard, painful 'work' of giving birth.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULT PROCESS IS CHILDBIRTH (e.g., 'the birth of a nation' preceded by 'labor pains').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation of components ('трудовые боли'). The correct equivalent is 'родовые схватки' for the literal meaning. The metaphor can be 'муки рождения'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'labor pain' (singular) incorrectly. It is almost always plural. Confusing with 'growing pains'.
Practice
Quiz
In its extended metaphorical meaning, 'labor pains' most closely refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in standard usage it is almost exclusively used in the plural form, referring to the series of contractions.
False labor, or Braxton Hicks contractions, are practice contractions that are usually less regular and less painful than true labor pains.
It is used to describe the period of turmoil, difficulty, or intense effort that comes before the successful 'birth' or launch of something significant, like a new country, project, or idea.