strength; power; proficiency; ability
magic; witchcraft; sorcery; spell
to defend against; to protect against; to prevent; to avert; to avoid
simile; metaphor; allegory; parable
min-maxing; concentrating points on a specific ability
to overdo; to do too much
imputation; shifting (blame, responsibility, etc.); passing the buck; second marriage; remarriage
loitering; roaming; sauntering; wandering about; prowling
around there; near there; or thereabouts; or so; such a matter; such a thing
early (days); initial stage; initial
to come and stay; to drop in; to visit
as if ...; as if to say ...; as though ...
eyes sparkling; with shining eyes; for one's eyes to gleam
ordinary person; average person; mediocre person
roundabout (e.g. expression); indirect (reference, criticism, etc.); oblique
great difference; big difference; wide margin
light novel; young-adult illustrated fiction
sweet-tasting; sweet; fragrant (smelling); sweet (music); lightly salted; light in salt; naive
one's nature; one's feelings; plain; unadorned; mere; poor
hiding one's embarrassment
real intention; true motive; true meaning
distress; wretched condition
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
memory; memory; recollection; remembrance
cautious; careful; shrewd; tactful; prudent; faultless
study; research; investigation
latest; newest; late-breaking (news)
high efficiency; high performance
waste (of money, time, etc.); squandering; frittering away
worthy of special mention
from the start; from the beginning; from the outset
impressive; striking; memorable; impactful
while; during (the time when)
course correction; trajectory change; orbital adjustment
to plan; to attempt; to plot; to conspire; to aim for; to strive for
furthermore; adding to the above-mentioned; not quite; not very good; lacking
your home; your family; their home; (my) home
to not understand; to not (quite) know; to be unsure; to be unable to tell
if it is the case that ...