be in deadly earnest

He saw that she was in deadly earnest, and went to close the door.

Once a city dies, they will know that we are in deadly earnest.

"Caesar has to be made to see that we are in deadly earnest."

The king was in deadly earnest about something exceedingly important.

They are amusing while appearing to be in deadly earnest.

He was in deadly earnest now, speaking soft and urgently.

He realized suddenly that she was in deadly earnest.

Neither of them were pulling their punches, this was in deadly earnest.

He was in deadly earnest, fighting for his life like a cornered rat.

This man at least was in deadly earnest.

Shea did not believe the thief was serious, but his voice sounded as if he were in deadly earnest.

He was in deadly earnest about this project.

Like all satirists, Powell was in deadly earnest, but she never saw any reason to be tiresome about it.

If it were in fun it would be all right, but they are in deadly earnest.

He laughs but, actually, he is in deadly earnest.

She was in deadly earnest in everything she did.

When Markham stepped into the roof garden a few minutes later it was only too plain that he had been in deadly earnest.

These sports were in deadly earnest.

'I have,' the young man told him, and, although he smiled, Ashley knew he was in deadly earnest.

The young Lensman, unimpressed, was in deadly earnest.

With the telephone receiver to his ear David glanced at her, and realized with only mild surprise that she was in deadly earnest.

I am in deadly earnest."

My suggestion was a joke, of course, but Stade was in deadly earnest once he got started.

He clearly understood that this opponent was in deadly earnest, and he put out all the strength which he possessed.

If General Gage had dispatched light infantry and grenadiers into the countryside, he was in deadly earnest.