group; party; team; organization; organisation; association
to deepen; to heighten; to intensify
even at the best of times; already; (even) under normal circumstances; in addition to; as it is
to blame; to find fault with
whenever they come together
anywhere; for all time; through thick and thin; come hell or high water; persistently; stubbornly
to accompany; to follow; to keep up with
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
to need; to call for; to require
quick on the uptake; quick to catch on; perceptive; intuitive
index finger; forefinger; first (occ. second) finger; second toe
bereavement; separation by death; loss
to start a journey; to embark on a trip; to set forth; to hit the trail
guarantee; security; assurance; warranty
to be born; to come into the world
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
no matter how you look at it; no matter how you slice it; clearly; obviously; surely; without a doubt
putting on a brave face; put-on cheeriness; pretending one is fine; show of courage; bravado; Dutch courage
somewhat below; slightly below
look of amazement; looking dumbfounded
inside this; in this; in here; among these; of this group; out of these
narrow (blade); slender (figure, build); thin
self-control; self-restraint
support; help; backing; covering (from enemy attack); protection
to lend an ear to; to listen to
quick pace; quick steps; quick march; trot (horse gait)
wholeheartedly; single-mindedly; earnestly; intently; determinedly
with a start; with a jump
prevailing view; common opinion; commonly accepted theory
maze; labyrinth; inner ear
condescending attitude; arrogant attitude; looking down on
to empty; to remove; to move out; to clear out; to be away from (e.g. one's house); to leave (temporarily); to dawn
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct
to mourn; to lament; to be sorry; to regret; to repent
not limited to; not just ...
to be truant; to slack off; to play hooky; to skip school; to cut class; to skip out
trouble; bother; annoyance; to be troubled (by); to be bothered (by); to be inconvenienced (by)
plans; arrangement; schedule; program; programme; expectation