coulds

Their new statement which speaks of a multitude of 'shoulds' and 'coulds' - those all encompassing terms which allows the writer to say 'told you so' at a later date, whilst not appearing to apportion blame before the occurrence:

British Blogs Anna Raccoon 2010

While there are two "coulds" in that statement, the mere possibility that such an imminent arrival and massive shortfall could be true should give every prudent adult a few second thoughts about what the future may hold.

Chris Martenson, Ph.D.: Future Chaos: There Is No "Plan B" Ph.D. Chris Martenson 2010

Locherson, Lord Salisbury's secretary, were listening with all their ears to their confidential whispers, and taking thereby bad "coulds" which they subsequently had to go home and nurse.

It Might Have Been The Story of the Gunpowder Plot Emily Sarah Holt 1864

At this point, the UC can't afford to gamble with "coulds" and "maybes."

The Guardian Cheryl Hori 2010

A lot of very interesting and worthwhile "coulds" and "shoulds" in this article, but let's just stay on one subject; "Canada's combat role in Afghanistan".

Tyee - Home 2009

And if the conditional “coulds” are taken in the right spirit, this is absolutely true.

Matthew Yglesias » The Trouble With Unconditionality 2010

Or better yet, try it right before bed, when your mind is ready to punch out on it's timeclock of coulds, woulds and shoulds of the day.

Penny Love Hoff: What to Do When Your Brain White-Knuckles You Penny Love Hoff 2011

Or better yet, try it right before bed, when your mind is ready to punch out on it's timeclock of coulds, woulds and shoulds of the day.

Penny Love Hoff: What to Do When Your Brain White-Knuckles You Penny Love Hoff 2011

Unfortunately, those "coulds" depend not on the underlying economics of renewables—they've been a crashing failure everywhere they've been tried—but on the amount of taxpayer funds that either the Scottish or more likely U.K. government is willing to extend to these boondoggles.

Green Scot! 2011

Expect lots of ifs, coulds and maybes in the next half hour or so.10.34pm: West Ham are to pay £1.6m for Bristol City's Nicky Maynard says Jim and Natalie.

Transfer window deadline day 2012 – as it happened 2012