difficult to ...; hard to ...
commitment; pledge; promise
to feel around for; to fumble for; to investigate; to probe into; to explore (parts unknown); to enjoy (natural beauty)
spreading around (news, rumor, etc.); making widely known; making public; publicizing; proclaiming
hobby; pastime; tastes; preference; liking
department (in an organization, company, etc.); division; club (at a school, university, etc.); team; part; portion
to enter; to go in; to set (of the sun or moon); to sink; to attain (nirvana, enlightenment, etc.); to achieve
question; inquiry; enquiry
to change the subject (e.g. away from something awkward or inconvenient)
crime committed for fun; criminal who takes delight in people's reaction to his crimes
-ical; -ive; -like; -ish; (something) like; along the lines of
to talk; to speak; to tell; to explain; to speak (a language)
general public; the masses
to aim at (with a weapon, etc.); to be after (something or someone); to have an eye on; to aim for; to set up as a goal
to bend; to curve; to bend (the truth); to falsify; to corrupt; to sully
silence; being silent; quiet; reticence; inaction
to fall for a trick; to be taken in; to play into the hands (of)
frustrated (over a failure, humiliation or injustice); annoyed; chagrined; (bitterly) disappointed; bitter; vexed
tsk; tut; shoot; chirp; tweet
clicking one's tongue; tut-tut; smacking one's lips (with relish)
entirely useless; completely worthless; no no; don't!
a certain someone; Mr So-and-so
Mr; master; Ms; miss; (arch.) sir; (arch.) madam
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
overall victory; championship; winning the title; (being in) heaven; bliss; perfect contentment
clean; clear; pure; honest; clean
right; correct; proper; righteous; just
wonderful; splendid; magnificent; exceeding; incredible; remarkable
flowery words; rhetorical flourishes
to place in a row; to line up; to range in order; to list one after another (e.g. excuses, reasons, complaints); to rattle off (e.g. lies, compliments); to reel off
irreproachable conduct; good conduct; high morals
article; news story; report; account
to write; to compose; to pen; to draw; to paint
common saying; everyday talk; common parlance; vulgar; lowbrow; indecent
present age; present day; contemporary; modern era; modern times; contemporary era
war; battle; match; game; competition
to hold back (e.g. emotions); to rein in (e.g. a horse, unruly people); to get the better of; to control; to command
to control; to command; to get the better of
concrete; definite; specific; material; substantial
to have (someone) by the short hairs; to have something on (someone)
to act timid; to show diffidence; to be hesitant; to appear embarrassed; to look ashamed
far from; anything but; not at all ... but rather ...; let alone; to say nothing of; not to mention