sinew
n
1 [C, U] tough cord of tissue joining a muscle to a bone; tendon 腱; 肌腱.
2 sinews [pl]
(a) muscles 肌肉
The athletes waited, with all their sinews tensed. 运动员都在等待著, 全身肌肉十分紧张.
(b) (fml fig 文, 比喻) source of strength or energy 力量或能量的来源
A country's sinews are its roads and railways. 公路和铁路是国家的命脉.
He says nothing about the poor selection of goods in the shops, or about those unfortunate people who have to travel from the country to the city every day to get to work.