Carlina, following with her own, tried self-consciously to smooth away the frown she could feel between her brows.

Vorkosigan gentled his tone, relaxed his hands, self-consciously trying to dampen his usual intensity.

Bernstein tries too self-consciously to make a conflict between tonal and nontonal elements into the substance of this piece.

In trying so self-consciously to gather its pieces together, the otherwise lovely movie forces its delicate hand and sails out on a pretentious note.

This play is not ideological in the manner of works by Brecht; it does not self-consciously try to teach.

Among the other couples, who have gotten up to dance, he holds her tentatively, self-consciously trying to move to the music.

And it's about Islamic radicals who are self-consciously trying to create a worldwide terror network.

But it has to be said that he tried more consistently and more self-consciously than most political leaders to insulate himself from external pressures and to personalize decision-making.

Gathering for the death vigil, family and friends self-consciously try to comfort the patient and one another.

Minor caught himself self-consciously trying to straighten his clothing and stopped short.