spring water; clear (pure) water
densely covered in thick hair; hairy; fuzzy
palm tree (any tree of family Arecaceae)
empty nest; empty house; empty home; burglary (of an empty house); burglar (who targets empty houses)
climax; peak; zenith; apex
flame; blaze; fire; attack; aggression
work; labor; achievement; performance; salary; income
dramatization (e.g. of a novel); dramatisation; adaptation (for the stage or screen); embellishment (of the facts); exaggeration; dramatization
for better or worse; for good and bad; regardless of merit; both good and bad
notes; comment; remark; annotation
assistant; helper; assistant (to a professor); research assistant
shortage of stock; scarcity of goods; being in short supply
to attract public attention; to create a stir; to arouse interest
plausible (but untrue); credible (e.g. lie); specious; seemingly truthful
unreliable; undependable; untrustworthy; not to be counted on
to sit at a desk (to study); to be at one's desk; to set to work on revision, homework, etc.
study; pursuit of knowledge
to work hard; to try hard; to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to devote oneself to
almost every day; almost daily
to manipulate (someone); to make (someone) dance to one's tune; to lead astray; to make (someone) dance; to let dance
to get the short end of the stick; to get the bad end of a bargain
risky speculation; big gamble; large bet
successfully; fairly; artfully; nicely; completely; thoroughly
debt collection; debt collector
to balance (accounts); to even out; to balance out
trial and tribulation; hardships; privations; difficulties
to go through; to pass through; to struggle through; to get through (difficulties, danger, etc.); to escape (through the cordon)
Lagenaria siceraria var. gourda (variety of bottle gourd); gourd (container) made from its fruit
of tender years; very young
in a day; in a brief space of time
knowing only too well; being fully aware of
shallow; superficial; slight (wound); light (sleep); short (time); early
not non-existent; not completely lacking; there is some; certainly existent
refusal; rejection; denial; veto
just what you'd expect from ...; that's just like (him, her, etc.); that's (exactly) why ...; that's (precisely) the reason ...
to have an interest (in something); to feel inclined (toward doing something)