"make an effort to do sth" in German to make an effort to do sth. sich anstrengen, etw. zu tun sich bemühen, etw. zu tun Detailed translations for "make an effort to do sth" to make an effort to do sth. to make an effort to do sth.(also: to exert yourself to do sth., to try hard to do sth.) sich anstrengen, etw. zu tun to make an effort to do sth.(also: to seek to do sth., to exert yourself to do sth., to try hard to do sth.) sich bemühen, etw. zu tun