hard to deal with; hard to handle; difficult; trying; intractable; incorrigible
has never (done, occurred); there has never been an instance (where); there is no precedent (for)
one's weak point; one's sore spot; raw nerve
profit-and-loss arithmetic; calculating profit and loss; mercenary point of view
independent action; acting alone
disadvantage; handicap; drawback; inadvisability; inexpediency; loss
to be ordered (to do); to be charged with (a duty); to be assigned (a job)
constraint; reserve; feeling hesitant; being afraid of troubling someone
it hasn't been long since
locals; local inhabitants
deed; act; conduct; behavior; asceticism
to evade (questions); to reply evasively; to beat around the bush; to throw up a smoke screen
granted that; even if; even though
crime; criminal act; offence; offense
glass sphere; glass bead; glass marble
emptiness; hollowness; vacancy; inanity; pointlessness; meaninglessness
to follow; to shadow; to hanker after; to hover around
to take part in; to be a party to; to side with; to support; to agree with
for heaven's sake (Pete's, mercy's, etc.); for pity's sake; oh stop; lay off
inside out; upside down; flip side; opposite; contrary
unceasing; never-ending; endless
to spread rumors; to spread rumours
pupil and (dark) iris of the eye
blood relationship; consanguinity; blood relative
brothers and sisters; siblings; half-siblings; step-siblings; mate; friend
directions; instructions; orders; command
apathy; indifference; listlessness; athymia
to be careful; to be discreet; to do in moderation; to refrain (from overdoing); to be purified; to be chaste
(facial) expression (esp. fierce, fearless, sinister, etc.); look
somewhere to go; place to go
to lead; to take the initiative; to take precedence (e.g. sadness taking precedence over anger); to be most essential
regular customer; valued client
inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; test; check; scan (e.g. MRI, PET); audit
to call a person's attention (to)
outbreak of an illness; onset of a condition; appearance of symptoms
professional job; profession
discouragement; despondency; dejection; disappointment
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
to dismiss (from a position); to exempt; to excuse from; to forgive
as much as one can; as much as possible
wrong; different; not like that