putting the cart before the horse; mistaking the means for the end; getting one's priorities backwards
sincere; earnest; serious
to cling to; to hang onto; to rely on; to depend on; to implore; to entreat
to not understand; to not (quite) know; to be unsure; to be unable to tell
skip it; drop it; I've had enough (e.g. when offered something); that's enough
disaster; calamity; misfortune; trouble; woes
bad reputation; poor reception; unpopularity; disrepute
to whip; to lash; to give the rod; to spur on; to encourage
tiring easily; easy to tire
individual differences; personal equation
easy; simple; handy; quick; effortless
dregs; sediment; lees (esp. sake); leftovers; by-product; worthless item; junk
low-priced; cheap; shallow (e.g. sympathy); superficial; link back to discussion group, bulletin board, etc. posting
dispatch; despatch; transmission; informing (e.g. of opinion); sharing (thoughts, etc.); telling
mother-in-law; foster mother; step mother
to be better (than); to be superior; to surpass; to excel; to be excellent
to fall fast asleep; to be confined to one's bed; to be laid up
to run about; to rush about
manufacturing; craftsmanship; making things by hand
to sell well; to sell out; to be worldly and understanding; to be sensible; to be sorted out; to be put in order
all over the country; everywhere in the country; throughout the nation
rich person; wealthy person
common people; ordinary people; masses
just made; fresh (e.g. from the oven); newly built (e.g. house); brand-new
slight intoxication; being tipsy; mellowness
to dilute; to water down; to thin; to soften (e.g. a statement, impression, etc.); to weaken (e.g. an effect); to tone down
little by little; bit by bit; sparingly
direction; trend; directionality; directivity; goal; aim
course; route; path; process; stages
to each his own; people differ; different people (have different likes)
to hint at; to intimate; to suggest; to allude to; to imply
hesitantly; timidly; diffidently
to cease; to stop; to be over