Example sentences of "[vb mod] not for the [noun] of " 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 | 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 . |
| 5 | The Marshal could n't for the life of him remember that . |
| 6 | Because he could n't for the life of him imagine what he personally could have done to her . |
| 7 | 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 . |
| 8 | 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 ! |
| 9 | Harris knew that something had happened but he could n't for the life of him think what it might be . |
| 10 | ‘ 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 . ’ |
| 11 | I could n't for the life of me understand what Emily Lightbody might see in him , except an eternal good time . |
| 12 | 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 . |
| 13 | 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 ? |
| 14 | 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 . ’ |
| 15 | I ca n't for the life of me understand what it is you see in it . |
| 16 | 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 . |
| 17 | ‘ Oh heck , I ca n't for the life of me remember . ’ |
| 18 | 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 . |
| 19 | 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 ! ’ |
| 20 | GUIL : I ca n't for the life of me see how we 're going to get into conversation . |
| 21 | I ca n't for the life of me see why , if you really feel something , it 's got to be talked about . |
| 22 | And , talking to these teachers , I ca n't for the life of me see what motive any of them can have . |
| 23 | ‘ 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 . ’ |
| 24 | ‘ I ca n't for the life of me imagine why , ’ she whispered , ‘ but please do n't stop , will you ? ’ |
| 25 | The trouble is , I ca n't for the life of me remember what I was wearing the last time I went to see Angy , or on the day she died . |
| 26 | I ca n't for the life of me see how it could have been Sheila Williams he was with … |
| 27 | ‘ The one that says you own the world and all that 's in it , that says you ca n't for the life of you figure out why I 'm not jumping for joy at the prospect of staying on here , in this house , as your grandmother 's companion . ’ |
| 28 | Well erm you see although I learned shorthand and typing it was better money and that was the reason I had to do it , I 've passed my exams in shorthand but er probably there were n't enough offices then to employ a good many clerks , but erm they er it was a very big fellow who used to ring the bell and the bell was on the outside , he was named Tom but I ca n't for the life of me think erm what his other name was but , erm it used to put the fear through us I can tell you if we were around the corner and we heard that bell ringing but erm they , they were a good firm to work for and , but they were strict but everywhere was strict in those days , we had to accept it but it was a long long hours , but erm they knew I had some , I , I enjoyed it and I 'd go back again only I 'm too old . |
| 29 | I 've tried , I ca n't for the life of me remember them |
| 30 | I ca n't for the love of me understand the leadership of all the unions that allowed , we do n't even get enough holidays of what they get on the continent , we should be asking for more , not taking them off us or putting it in October to celebrate Nelson and Trafalgar because I could n't give a monkey for 'em . |