Unstrung

But I apply the term unstrung to a man when he is rather under the pressure of feelings than under the pressure of conceptions. ❋ Unknown (1909)

She wouldn't jump up and screech every time the door slams if she'd been as used to noises as Ma is, and this talk about her nerves bein 'all unstrung is just plain silly – and as for her not sleepin' at nights, she sleeps as sound as any of us. ❋ Unknown (1910)

What was this hymn which now the tenors sang, and what was the answer that came from all the voices so close to me, the words in Latin unstrung and only incoherently enveloping me: "Lord, I am come into the Valley of Death; Lord, I am come to the end of my Sorrow; Lord, in thy deliverance I give life to those who would be idle in Hell were it not for thy divine plan." ❋ Rice, Anne, 1941- (1999)

Montague's sword unstrung the arm that upheld it, and the next instant the pastor was surrounded by friends. ❋ Unknown (1859)

This weekend, at a street fair, I was very tempted by some unstrung turquoise beads (on which I passed, until I actually know how to string them). ❋ Unknown (2009)

Above, power lines hang, their criss-crossed cables dangling like an unstrung bow. ❋ Sally Houtman (2012)

But not alone at this did they laugh, for at the moment of the snap and the turning over, Captain Duncan's unstrung nerves had exploded, causing him to jump as he tensed his whole body. ❋ Unknown (2010)

…The bone tasted of nothing and smelled of nothing, A scalded toothless harp, uncrushed, unstrung. ❋ Unknown (2011)

All tricks in the arena stopped, the animals temporarily unstrung and unable to continue. ❋ Unknown (2010)

It was frightful, and for twenty-four hours after, Bâtard was nervous and unstrung, starting at common sounds, tripping over his own shadow, but, withal, vicious and masterful with his team-mates. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Rafa's racket weighs a flimsy 10.6 ounces unstrung, plus an extra 0.4 ounce he adds to the head, for a total of 11.5 ounces with strings, practically pixie dust in the hands of a 6-foot-1 hulking guy. ❋ Unknown (2010)

The hefty, unforgiving Pro Staff Original Mr. Sampras used en route to 14 Grand Slam titles is 12.6 ounces unstrung. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Feeling the urge to whistle with guilt, Lucia studiously unstrung her bow and stowed it back in its travel case. ❋ Kresley Cole (2010)

That brought those depthless blue eyes within a foot, perhaps six inches, maybe even closer, and something happened inside Enrique, like a guitar string suddenly unstrung. ❋ Rafael Yglesias (2009)

She knew her kids [looked up] to her, yet suddenly faced with total loss of income, feeling her symptoms of [coronavirus] increasing [by the hour], she feared she would become their unstrung hero. ❋ Monkey's Dad (2020)