subtext; implication; connotation; implicit meaning; between the lines
concerning ...; over ...; about ...; centering on ...
one's future; one's fate; prospects; one's way; one's path
last days; the end; one's fate
at this stage; at this point; (only) now
to be anxious (about); to be concerned (about); to think out (e.g. a plan); to work out; to investigate
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
bet; wager; stake; gamble
continuation; rest (of the story, work, etc.); flow (e.g. of a piece of writing); pacing (of a story); succession (of); sequence
instability; insecurity; crankiness
to rub (on); to wipe; to daub; to lay (the blame on someone); to pin; to shift
crying face; face of a person who is crying
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
locked up feeling; cooped up feeling; feeling of entrapment; feeling of hopelessness; being in a bind
courteous; decorous; polite
philosophical view; looking at philosophically; long view; farsighted view
foul play; cheating; cunning person; sly fellow; cheat
(just) out of curiosity; (just) in order to satisfy one's curiosity; aimed chiefly at amusing; sensational (e.g. magazine)
plan; scheme; plot; design; project; intention
to cause someone to worry
revolving lantern; ever-changing scene (e.g. life flashing before one's eyes)
moral support; emotional support; spiritual support
to make war (on); to wage war (against); to compete (against); to struggle (against adversities, etc.); to fight
to work hard; to sweat; to wash off one's sweat
firm; strong; solid; stable
not necessarily so; is not always true; there is no guarantee that ...; there is no telling
to rise; to raise up; to straighten up; to sit up; to stand up
to be born; to come into the world
all right; very well; there, there; patting (e.g. a child on the head); stroking
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
to divide; to separate; to share; to distribute; to distinguish
an order of magnitude higher; off by a digit; in a different league; unbelievable; incomparable; unimaginable
action; operation; process; agency; effect; function
game with many hits; high-scoring game
complementation; supplementation; completion
impact (of a projectile); landing (of a bullet); striking