Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner's English Dictionary - throes

1. If someone is experiencing something very unpleasant or emotionally painful, you can say that they are in the throes of it, especially when it is in its final stages. (FORMAL) ...when the country was going through the final throes of civil war. N-PLURAL: usu prep N, N of n 2. If you are in the throes of doing or experiencing something, especially something difficult, you are busy doing it or are deeply involved in it. (FORMAL) The country is in the throes of a general election... PREP-PHRASE 3. see also death throes