half-cooked; vague; halfhearted; indecisive
dramatic decrease; sharp drop; sudden fall
head-on; to one's face; squarely; directly; flatly (e.g. refuse)
to wipe; to mop up; to get rid of (an impression, feeling, blemish, etc.); to dispel (e.g. shame); to erase
to harden; to solidify; to become firm; to become certain; to gather (together); to assemble
to coo at; to behave like a spoiled child; to snort; to sniff
pressure; encouragement; urging; promoting
difficult to imagine; quite unlikely to; very doubtful; would not expect
cancellation; liquidation; resolution; reduction (e.g. of stress)
weight; weight (e.g. of someone's words); burden; importance; significance
to be mixed; to be blended with; to associate with; to mingle with; to join
it cannot be that ...; it is highly unlikely that ...; it is impossible that ...
utensil; implement; tool; instrument; appliance; apparatus
to remember; to recall; to call to mind; to imagine; to picture in one's mind; to visualize
to reconsider; to rethink; to reassess
as if; as it were; as though; right then; just then; at that moment
to determine (esp. a culprit or underlying cause); to pin down; to ascertain; (arch.) to stab to death
to check through; to thoroughly investigate
inscrutable; incomprehensible
to be sticky; to be adhesive; to persevere; to persist; to stick to
to defend oneself; to protect oneself
... or something (like that); ... or whatever; so-called ...; a certain ...
blinding someone's eyes (to make an escape); smoke screen; distraction; magic (trick); sleight of hand
or something; for instance ... (though there are other suitable options); ... or ...; as soon as; right after; while still
to fail; to blunder; to mess up; to be dismissed; to be fired
to commit (e.g. crime); to perpetrate; to break (e.g. rule); to violate; to rape; to violate
having a poor endgame; failing at the final stage; missing at the last turn; slacking off at the end
dull; uninteresting; insignificant; unimportant; absurd; foolish
flaring up; burning hotly; flying into a rage; losing one's cool; opening suddenly and widely (e.g. eyes, mouth); (arch.) acting resolutely
to (make something) quiver; to shake; to tremble; to vibrate
to lurk; to be hidden; to be concealed; to lie dormant; to be latent
when it comes to ...; if one were to speak of ...; by ... you mean ...; when you say ... you mean that ...; whenever ...; if it's ... then (without fail)
to induce (someone to do something); to tempt; to act toward (someone in a certain way); to handle (men); to send; to forward to
to kill (with a weapon); to slay; to defeat (an opponent); to beat; to get (a batter) out
careful; scrupulous; thorough; conscientious; elaborate; deliberate
with a start; in surprise; suddenly (realize, remember, etc.); all of a sudden; puffing (air); with a puff
to notice; to realize; to be attentive; to be scrupulous; to regain consciousness; to come to (one's senses)
no change; no difference; no unusual events; no accidents; no incidents
care (e.g. medical); attention; nursing; kea (Nestor notabilis)
to launch a surprise attack
to hide; to conceal; to lower volume (of a sound or one's voice) so as not to be heard; to become quiet and inconspicuous