Gates tried to smile, tried to hide his disappointment, and could barely summon anything except disgust.

The goddess aid me, I could hardly keep upright, I could barely summon a sensible thought, let alone be ready to perform some great feat of magic.

How much is a father worth who can barely summon the will to ask a simple question?

After that plea for originality the movie "settles in to a story so predictable that the filmmakers can barely summon the resources to tell it" (Scott).

I could barely see, barely summon myself to catch one more ham and throw it, one more ham and throw it.

He presents himself as a reticent, maladroit figure who can barely summon a tale to mind.

Three months had passed, and he still could barely summon the courage to look at his face in the mirror.

He was so tired he could barely summon strength to stand.

Her eyes were glazing, and she could barely summon the breath to speak.

"Congratulations," he croaked, barely summoning the rength to wave.