Others are discussed only in terse and guarded words.

"We aren't here to talk about me," he said, the words short and terse.

Someone shouted terse words that were tense and excited, from the back of the room.

Now and then a few terse words were exchanged; for the most part the intercom was silent.

After a few more terse words Zammit rang off and went into the library.

And the boy jumps at the force of those terse words, then nods.

With a few terse words he gave the order to attack.

When he returned, his face told the story before his terse words.

Behind them a few terse words were passed between the leader and his men before he climbed in to join them.

She tends to be blunt, to reduce things to a few terse words or images.