deadly serious; deadly earnest
spreading one's legs wide apart; straddle; long stride; big steps; thigh-scooping body drop
more; much more; step; rung; paragraph; passage
present; gift; to give a present or gift
to bring; to take (something) along; to fetch; to get
(not) altogether; (not) wholly
nothing to sneeze at; pretty impressive
whispered conversation; whispering
to joke; to jest; to make fun of; to laugh at; to romp; to gambol
news; word; tidings; omen
manner of speaking; mode of expression; way of saying something; at the same time as speaking; as one speaks
to give a warning; to remind (a person) of
to give up smoking; to stop smoking
every day; daily; day after day; days (e.g. good old days)
mutation; change; transition
to creep; to steal up; to draw near unnoticed