barrier; checkpoint; checking station
the heat is off; things calm down; the excitement dies down
holiday; vacation; day off; time off; leave; furlough
to come back; to bloom a second time
to rot; to go bad; to corrode; to weather; to become useless; to blunt; to become depraved
private; foot soldier; infantryman; underling; low level worker; minor player
to catch; to capture; to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to captivate; to move (one's heart)
disagreeableness; unpleasantness; nastiness; cutting remark; disagreeable remark; snide comment
illegitimate child; secret love child
surprise victory; upset; coup
trend; tendency; momentum
profit; advantage; benefit; rebirth in paradise, entering nirvana
to teach thoroughly; to instill (into); to instil; to inculcate; to drum (into); to drill (into)
to be given; to be granted; to be honored with; to give; to bestow; to confer
matter of time; question of time
narcissism; self-absorption; self-intoxication
being argued into silence; being left speechless
serviceman; servicewoman; soldier; member of the armed forces; military personnel
decisive battle; deciding match; play-off
to look out on; to overlook; to face (a situation, crisis, etc.); to meet (e.g. death); to deal with (an issue); to attend (e.g. a function)
out of the question; outrageous; impossible; irrelevant; not pertinent
neighbourhood; neighborhood; vicinity
showy; loud; flashy; gaudy
threat; menace; coercion; blackmail
seat; location (of a gathering, etc.); place; position; post
my goodness!; oh my!; oh dear!
first-person plural (or singular); second or third person plural (implies speaker is of higher status than those referred to)
insult; affront; slight; contempt (e.g. of court)
on duty; at work; while working
sincerely; earnestly; wholeheartedly; repeatedly; over and over; again and again
to do (something negative); to make (a blunder); to commit (an error); to eat (up); to drink
splash; spray; chance blow; by-blow; getting dragged into (a quarrel, etc.)
breakdown (of talks, negotiations, etc.); breaking off; rupture
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
holding a castle (during a siege); holing up; confinement (to one's home); staying at home; staying indoors
reins; bridle; control; the reins (on)
to look sour; to look disgusted; to scowl; to frown