Example sentences of "[vb mod] not for the [noun] " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | For the next few days I was horribly inactive , gripped by a lethargy that I could not for the life of me understand . |
| 2 | I said that it would be unkind and discourteous to decline a visit , but I could not for the life of me see how I could help him where persons of much greater power were impotent . |
| 3 | He could not for the life of him understand why they should wish to remain inside the cottage while the Domain was dusted with poisons . |
| 4 | Mahmoud , incoherent with fury , could not for the moment say what it was . |
| 5 | As I heard the words I knew they were wrong , but could n't for the life of me remember the dolmen 's proper name . |
| 6 | The Marshal could n't for the life of him remember that . |
| 7 | Because he could n't for the life of him imagine what he personally could have done to her . |
| 8 | That evening , I went to see King Lear at the Old Vic , but I was unable to shake off my self-pity and I could n't for the life of me see what the old git was moaning about . |
| 9 | You know , when I was bringing up my children in the early seventies I read about the the mergence of the new working woman , you know , how to balance a career and a home and children , and I could n't for the life of me think what was new about this working woman ! |
| 10 | Harris knew that something had happened but he could n't for the life of him think what it might be . |
| 11 | ‘ I could n't for the life of me remember the English name for this vehicle and certainly did n't know what the Russian name was , so I asked him what he would call it . ’ |
| 12 | I could n't for the life of me understand what Emily Lightbody might see in him , except an eternal good time . |
| 13 | Guy had always liked tall women , preferably those built on rather buxom lines , but right now he could n't for the life of him remember why . |
| 14 | There had to be something she could say , something sharp and snappy , tailor-made to disabuse him of that idea , but was n't it just typical that she could n't for the life of her think what it was ? |
| 15 | Critical of the US deployment , the Soviet Union would not for the time being join an international force , but would consider how to respond if the UN Security Council decided on military action . |
| 16 | Gentlemen , I would not for the world be judge in a cause in which I am one party among three . |
| 17 | And I would not for the world meddle with her plans , though I am proud that she has consented on the way to visit me for a while . |
| 18 | I would not for the world keep him from his rest . |
| 19 | If your good lady mother is indisposed , I would not for the world — ’ |
| 20 | My friend answered that he would n't for the life of him ever tinker with such a volcano : ‘ If I did , ’ he said , ‘ the whole man might fall apart . ’ |
| 21 | I would n't for the world he should miscarry . ’ |
| 22 | I ca n't for the life of me understand what it is you see in it . |
| 23 | I honestly ca n't for the life of me figure out how to express the rest so I hope you 'll forgive me if I stop here . |
| 24 | ‘ Oh heck , I ca n't for the life of me remember . ’ |
| 25 | It is just the latest , polite way of saying that whites want to live in Africa , but they ca n't for the life of them get along with Africans . |
| 26 | Yes , the Government 's sending armaments to help Poland in her fight against the Soviet , but I ca n't for the life of me see what that 's got to do with you ! ’ |
| 27 | GUIL : I ca n't for the life of me see how we 're going to get into conversation . |
| 28 | I ca n't for the life of me see why , if you really feel something , it 's got to be talked about . |
| 29 | And , talking to these teachers , I ca n't for the life of me see what motive any of them can have . |
| 30 | ‘ Only then someone destroyed my confidence , my ability to trust , and , looking at you now , I ca n't for the life of me see how I could possibly have thought myself in love with someone so shallow , so completely self-centred . ’ |