The 'following orders' defense was a slim reed to begin with.

"It's a pathetic and slim reed for the Republicans to lean on," he said.

Like a slim reed of crystal a fountain hung in the dusky air.

"But that's a slim reed, a lawyer's distinction," he added, noting that the added count would probably not affect the sentencing.

Cullen reached in his vest pocket and drew out the slim reed.

It seemed a slim reed to snatch.

Although our efforts are a slim reed, they are better than no reed at all.

This is a pretty slim reed to hang Reagan on; he was clearly obsessed with the hostages, and clung to any hope of setting them free.

So far, all I had on that was the reference to hyssops in the Bible a slim reed indeed.

But Russian democracy, such as it is, clings to a slim reed.