to jabber; to chatter; to chat with
to blame; to find fault with
feature (e.g. newspaper); special edition; report
to cross (legs or arms); to link (arms); to put together; to construct; to braid; to plait; to grapple
after school (at the end of the day)
news coverage; collecting data (e.g. for an article); covering (something for media); interview
bad; wrong; evil; no good; wicked; reprehensible
acutely (feel); keenly; severely; tightly; hard
and then; and so; and; so then
suspicious-looking; shady; questionable; dubious; fishy
beautiful; pretty; lovely; sweet; pure (heart, friendship, etc.)
next term; next period; next version; next release
dignity; majesty; solemnity; gravity
brightness; brilliance; brilliancy; radiance; glitter
nature; natural constitution; innate disposition
house; home; one's house; one's home; one's husband
infiltration; sneaking in; going undercover
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
to do; to commit; to accomplish; to achieve
member; participant; attendee; lineup (sport)
waterway; channel; wake (of a ship)
extermination (esp. pests); expulsion; destruction
political measures; policy
several; a number of; quantity; amount; counting; figures; number
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
in plain words; in plain terms; put simply
stealing a march on; getting a head start; secretly acting before others; solo raid on an enemy's camp (for glory)
rule; regulation; settlement; conclusion; habit; custom
strict; severe; stern; rigid; rigorous; tough
and; moreover; besides; as well as; and on top of that; at the same time
to be contrary to; to be inconsistent with; to act contrary to (rules or guidelines); to violate; to oppose; to rebel
punishment; spanking; smacking; chastisement; scolding
to be fickle; to be frivolous; to be flippant; to be flighty; to be giddy; to be restless
finally; at last; barely; narrowly; gradually; little by little
club activities (usu. clubs in association with a school); extracurricular activities
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...