shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
positioning; getting a position; taking a position
to break (into pieces); to be broken; to collapse; to crumble; to become less formal; to throw off reserve
stone; rock; jewel; precious stone; flint (in a lighter); (round) game piece
measure; step; countermeasure; counterplan; countermove; strategy
place; position; location; position; standing; status
to deceive (with words); to cajole; to talk into; to explain away (e.g. unpleasant evidence); to argue away; to wheedle
to go down and stand; to alight; to get down
thereabouts; vicinity; that area; that situation; those circumstances
to dig up; to turn up; to tear up; to rake up (e.g. old scandal); to dig over
pendant (jewelry); pendant (light)
pretty; lovely; clean; clear; completely; entirely
to pick up; to gather; to find (and pick up; something someone has dropped); to select; to choose; to get (unexpectedly); to hit upon (luck, an opportunity, etc.)
point (of a story, argument, etc.); key point; point; site; point (in scoring); point (in a loyalty program); points
to cross (e.g. road); to traverse
(a) little; somewhat; somehow
place; spot; grounds; arena; stadium; range
forever; eternally; for good; as long as one likes; indefinitely; endlessly
treasure; precious article; picture of a treasure ship; money; cash
bureaucrat; government official; bureaucracy
male-female relationships; relations between the sexes; sexual relations
noisy; loud; annoying; troublesome; fussy; finicky
ordinary clothes (i.e. non-uniform); plain clothes; civilian clothes; plainclothes police officer
university student; college student
relation; relationship; participation; involvement; influence; effect
to drain; to pour; to float (e.g. logs down a river); to set adrift; to wash away; to carry away; to broadcast
spoiled fun; loss of interest; damper (e.g. on the party); wet blanket; turn-off
to gaze (at); to stare intently (at); to look fixedly (at); to fascinate; to enchant; to possess
talking while standing; standing around talking
class (of students); group (of people); party; lot; bunch; crime family; organized-crime syndicate
performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; game; match; high of the season; height (of summer, etc.)
training period; residency (esp. medical); internship
it says ...; it reads ...; ... is written
genuine; real; authentic; full-scale; full-blown; all-out
chores; odd jobs; miscellaneous affairs; miscellaneous expenses
to concern; to be related
strange; odd; peculiar; weird; bizarre; unusual
uncomfortable feeling; feeling out of place; sense of discomfort; malaise; physical unease