Instead, they mounted a spirited defence.
Derek O'Reilly puts up a spirited defence.
At least Kellogg's provided a spirited defence of their "spokes-simian".
OK, we're now also waiting for your spirited defence of drink-drivers.
But Mr Griffin launched a spirited defence of his opinions, saying they were "traditional Tory views".
This spirited defence of judicial independence and checks and balances was met by immediate, if emotional, acquiescence from the president.
I'm sure Pinker would have liked to use it as yet more evidence in his spirited defence of modern civilisation.
The criticism prompted the charming and witty political journalist Annabel Crabb into a spirited defence of her popular show.
Now into the fray, mounting a spirited defence of philosophy, steps the novelist and philosopher Rebecca Newberger Goldstein.
And then he made a spirited defence of the capitalist system, which he seemed to think was under attack here.
He mounted a spirited defence of his business and political dealings in court, denying all charges of embezzlement, bribery and corruption.
