Example sentences of "busied [pron] " in BNC.

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1 He tore one of Mum 's dusters into strips for this purpose and we busied ourselves counting out sticks and piling up bundles .
2 Unfortunately for Charles , the Director 's job turned out to be beyond his actually rather limited administrative abilities and , unable to assert himself in that field , he busied himself in the teaching side of things .
3 Aileen Gillies was all brisk agreement as she wrapped up some food in a cloth and gave it to them while her husband busied himself with laying the fire .
4 Whilst the signaller busied himself with decoding the latest message from on high , the Troop Commander 's mind raced back over a fairly hectic three weeks , Which had taken the troop from Hameln ( of Pied Piper fame ) , the regiment 's home base on the River Weser , eastwards to the River Leine and north the River Aller , before swinging north-west to the mouth of the Weser in the Bremerhaven area .
5 As the revelations gathered pace in America strenuous efforts were made to distance the president from the facts , while North busied himself with his office shredder .
6 Tenison busied himself with gathering up plans and files , which seemed to litter every surface .
7 As Knocker busied himself filling the bottles , Herbie turned to his main adversary .
8 While de Sade busied himself with Justine 's backside , Antonin ‘ made an offering to the contrary God ’ .
9 He busied himself adjusting his leathers .
10 In the desert , as his wartime despatches show , he was entranced by the conviction that he was controlling the Arabs without their even realizing it ; in his self-imposed obscurity after the war he busied himself secretly , though not too secretly , with pulling strings .
11 Manville busied himself preparing the messages for despatch .
12 He busied himself with the electric kettle and a jar of instant coffee , and in a moment or two put the hot drink in front of her .
13 Behind the desk a single clerk busied himself with paperwork .
14 The young man said he would tell her when to get off and then busied himself with an oilcan among the driving wheels .
15 Nigel himself vacillated between belief in and total rejection of death , and busied himself with sorting out his desk and jettisoning surplus papers .
16 Over the spring of 1791 Mozart busied himself with composition : pieces for mechanical organ ( a fashionable instrument he detested ) ; two string quintets , K.593 in D and K.614 in E flat , both written for private concerts at the homes of wealthy amateurs ; a great deal of dance music — minuets , German dances , etc. — for the court balls ; and a new piano concerto , in B flat , K.595 .
17 The assistant again busied himself with his calculator .
18 Ben looked about him , then left the bundled rabbit on the wide stone step outside and busied himself .
19 He walked round the back of the car and busied himself with the boot .
20 Across from him Chen busied himself at his wife 's side , preparing the meal .
21 ‘ Mr Connon , ’ he said as he busied himself with the kettle and the jar of instant coffee , ‘ I did n't really have a chance last night to explain myself to you very fully .
22 Auguste busied himself checking the stuffing , unable to get to the root of his unease .
23 Instead , he busied himself about his parish duties .
24 Had n't he taken a day off to go fishing , while Adam busied himself with prospective clients ?
25 Fen did n't even bother to look at her but instead busied himself pulling curtains across the cabin windows .
26 The driver sat drumming his fingers nervously on the steering wheel while the attendant busied himself filling the tank , checking the oil and radiator , and wiping the windscreen .
27 The Commander busied himself with his coffee cup : it clinked against his saucer as he picked it up .
28 The Careys were also in attendance : Lady Carey glowered whilst her husband busied himself at the far end of the room , totally ignoring our existence .
29 Kathleen swallowed a lump in her throat , Ben coughed discreetly and Jack busied himself at the X-ray box .
30 Athelstan busied himself arranging his writing tray on the table .
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