Example sentences of "[to-vb] [pn reflx] by [v-ing] " in BNC.
Next page| No | Sentence |
|---|---|
| 1 | The striking point , however , is that instead of merely denying the charge , he had set out to vindicate himself by finding a scientific reason why the world could not be eternal . |
| 2 | As the main churches have become more liberal , Free Presbyterianism emerged to challenge the lack of ‘ real ’ Protestantism and hence offered an implicit challenge to the fraternal organizations to purify themselves by breaking their ties with the main , and now apostate , denominations . |
| 3 | I tried to distract myself by concentrating on Jamila . |
| 4 | In September he tried to kill himself by slashing his wrists . |
| 5 | It was on this stretch of line near Didcot that William McCrae tried to kill himself by jumping off a train travelling at nearly seventy miles an hour . |
| 6 | Like most Birkbeck students , he was obliged to support himself by working at a job of some kind . |
| 7 | Catherine or St Catherine 's Hill itself constituted a Pandora 's box of small-town trades and occupations at the time : everything from a gingerbread maker to a hairdresser , a staymaker , a breechesmaker , Charles Tucker the coalminer , John Golledge the blind schoolmaster , Mrs Allen at the Castle public house , and even John Ward , who seemed to be able to support himself by practising the noble art of a ‘ horse jockey ’ . |
| 8 | After his retirement , I might try to persuade him to enjoy himself by accompanying me to whatever seaside resort the Conservative party attends for its conference next October — I will ensure his safety of passage into the hall — so that he can see how few pinstripe suits there are , let alone the mythical hats of which he spoke . |
| 9 | His classmates had called him a sissie because he had never dared to dirty himself by climbing a wall or joining in any of their rough-and-tumble games . |
| 10 | If , as in the last illustration , you decide that a fact can be inferred from what is given , though not explicitly stated , it is wise to guard yourself by stating expressly that you assume the fact to exist . |
| 11 | Homoeopathy is a process of natural healing in which the remedies are used to assist the body to heal itself by stimulating its natural healing powers . |
| 12 | He put his head out of the window and tried to clam himself by attempting to identify the night sounds . |
| 13 | Where the privacy of routine cases provides an effective screen to scrutiny , however , the field officer is freed from the need to cover himself by acting according to his perception of the organization 's expectations . |
| 14 | Cumberland decided that Wales was the more likely objective , though he tried to cover himself by arranging for the road between Buxton and Derby to be broken up by the Derbyshire militia to slow Charles down should he take it instead . |
| 15 | The birthplace of the novel is the solitary individual , who is no longer able to express himself by giving examples of his most important concerns , is himself uncounselled and can not counsel others . |
| 16 | ( As we have already noted , Herod attempted to legitimise himself by marrying a Maccabean princess , then proceeded to murder her and her sons , thus extinguishing the Maccabean line . ) |
| 17 | Rosie had bitten him twice in the past ; once when she managed to free herself by chewing through her tethering-rope , and once when she leaped through the window of Buddie 's jeep and chased him into the pig-yard . |
| 18 | She was too angry to run down at once to Electricity , had to calm herself by walking briskly around the streets , postponing thoughts about her father till later . |
| 19 | Woodhall farm were able to console themselves by retaining the Arcade team trophy . |
| 20 | An AA Roadwatch spokesman warned of ‘ bedlam ’ on all main routes into London and advised travellers to help themselves by allowing extra time for journeys and sharing cars if possible . |
| 21 | Bernard Baruch spoke for many business people when he complained that the British were quick to moan but not to help themselves by making their economy more productive and competitive . |
| 22 | Some constables initially played up to the fact that their remarks would be appearing in print , hoping to identify themselves by saying something outrageous which was then suffixed by ‘ How about that for a quote for the book ? ’ |
| 23 | However , we can help you to help yourselves by letting you know what this deadline is ; the date up to which we can pretty much guarantee your ad 's inclusion ( as far as we can ever guarantee anything ) . |
| 24 | My personal belief is that sadism may have one or both of two components : a need to dominate — to put another person into an inferior position and to assert oneself by inflicting pain — or a need to destroy arising from some inner hatred of self and/or others in general . |
| 25 | Your cousin Henry has set off for Alma Ata in ex-Soviet Kazakhstan , hoping to finance himself by selling articles to The Spectator , where he has asked me to use my influence . |
| 26 | During her last imprisonment in Holloway in 1911–12 , when several hundred women were being forcibly fed , she thought her death would end this mass torture and tried to kill herself by throwing herself downstairs ; although seriously injured , she survived . |
| 27 | Both arms plunged down into the water , but she was able to steady herself by pressing her hands on the stony bed . |
| 28 | He had even tried to stretch himself by hanging from the limb of a tree by his hands until the skin on his palms was blistered . |
| 29 | It was ‘ natural ’ and defensible , on the ground that one medium might reasonably seek to protect itself by investing in a competitor . |
| 30 | Libyans knew of civilians imprisoned , officers hanged or shot for voicing opinions contrary to the regime , and they took care not to expose themselves by expressing hostility or opposition in public . |