context (of a passage); line of thought; context (of a matter, event, etc.); circumstances; background
modern times; the modern age; this day and age
vigor; vigour; ardor; ardour; high spirits
to prosper; to flourish; to thrive; to become popular; to become widespread
declining birth rate; decline in the number of children; sub-replacement fertility
to remain; to be left over; to be in excess; to be too many
to go to meet (someone); to go to pick up
business; things to do; engagement; errand; affairs
hopeless; futile; no use; beyond help; cannot be done
bent back; indecisive attitude; timidity; lack of nerve
mankind; the human creature; fellow creatures
to open up (to someone); to become unreserved; to lower one's guard; to become friendly (with); to feel at ease; to take a relaxed attitude (to)
suddenly and forcefully (e.g. jerk, poke, shove); in a single gulp; in one go
self-abasement; self-depreciation; humility
Viking; smorgasbord; buffet; smorgasbord (of things); hodge-podge
cannot be helped; unavoidable
chronic disease; chronic illness; old complaint; bad habit; intractable habit
annoyance; irritation; vexation; abdominal spasms; convulsions; cramps
painful; difficult; distressing; (psychologically) difficult; straitened (circumstances); tight (financial situation)
paying no heed to; not caring about; taking no notice of
to face on; to look out on to
expressly; especially; specially; intentionally; deliberately; on purpose
peacetime; time of peace; ordinary times; normal times
how should I put it?; what shall I say?; well, you know; like
uncertain; unreliable; inauthentic; insecure
to evaluate; to appraise; to comment on
expression; representation; description; representation (of a group)
serious; severe; grave; acute
after a short while; not long after; soon; before long; shortly thereafter
area; region; district; locality
minority ethnic group; ethnic minority; minority race
coming out; emerging; being born into (a certain family); being a native of (a particular place)
century; hundred years; (fig.) a long time
isolation; separation; remoteness; seclusion; reclusion; inaccessibility
protection; safeguard; guardianship; preservation; conservation
acrobatic barrel-rolling (performed using the feet while lying on the back); handing something around (within a fixed group of people in a pre-arranged order); handing off a problem to someone else (in order to evade responsibility)