recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
illness (usu. excluding minor ailments, e.g. common cold); disease; bad habit; bad behaviour; crazy; insane
going to the hospital regularly for treatment; attending hospital as an outpatient
talk; speech; topic; subject; discussions; negotiation; rumor
melancholy; gloom; depression
burden; load; responsibility; bearing (a cost, responsibility, etc.); shouldering
or something; for instance ... (though there are other suitable options); ... or ...; as soon as; right after; while still
as many as one likes; as much as one likes; great many; plenty; almost (none); (not) much
but I suppose; it seems; probably; I guess
circumstances; conditions; situation; reasons; state of affairs
by chance; by accident; accidentally; occasionally; once in a while; now and then
estate sale; estate liquidation
wife; garnish (esp. one served with sashimi); trimmings; accompaniment; side (remark)
early; soon; quickly; swiftly; rapidly
to lose (through death; e.g. a wife, child)
(verbal) message; word (from someone)
difficult; hard; impossible; unfeasible; fussy; particular; gloomy
remainder; remnant; (not) very; (not) much; too much; excessively; extreme
parent; parents; dealer; banker; founder; inventor; (pet) owner
shock (emotional); shock (physical); impact; crisis (esp. financial); event that rattles the markets; (circulatory) shock
now that you mention it; come to think of it; that reminds me; on that subject; speaking of which
truancy; school non-attendance
with trouble; at great pains; rare; valuable; kind; generous
to accept (e.g. an explanation); to be satisfied (with); to assent (to)
backdoor; rear entrance; rear exit; unauthorized; illicit; illegal
educator; teacher; educationalist
disqualification; elimination; incapacity; being unfit for one's role; being a failure
disclosure; exposure; revelation
important person; influential figure; big shot; big thing; big one; big game
actually; in fact; as a matter of fact
zero; 0; nought; nothing; zilch
to be effective; to take effect; to work; to function well; to be possible (to do, use, etc.); to be able to
going through; going via; going by way of
to look after; to take care of; to be put in charge of; to be given responsibility for; to withhold (an announcement); to reserve (judgment)
the past; bygone days; one's past (that one would prefer remained secret); past (tense); preterit; previous life
experienced; already had an experience (with something)
suitable; proper; appropriate; perfunctory; half-minded; sloppy
storehouse; warehouse; godown
never mind that; don't worry about that; listen up
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
alright; all right; right on; looking good; OK; okay