foster father; adoptive father
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that...
chattering; chit-chat; (ladies) prattle
timid; faint-hearted; wimpish
greater than ...; bigger ...
individuality; personality; quirk; idiosyncrasy; character; individual characteristic
to weigh on one's mind; to trouble one's heart; to be concerned about; to worry about
pencil case; pencil box; writing brush case
plain; unfigured; patternless; solid (color)
beautiful woman; pretty girl
neurosis; nervous breakdown; mental problem; identity crisis; obsession
to change (cars or horses); to transfer; to possess; to inspire
trivial; not amounting to much; not enough to cause a problem; not as much as expected
to leave one's seat; to temporarily excuse oneself (from a meeting, etc.); to step outside; to be away (from one's desk, etc.)
with my own (two) eyes; with these very eyes
to swipe; to nick; to pilfer; to steal
telecommunication equipment
clanging; banging; throbbing (headache); pounding; fully; vigorously
a day after the fair; (at a) stage when it's too late
to detain; to check; to restrain
tall story; tall tale; cock-and-bull story
establishment; creation; posing (a problem); options setting; preference settings; configuration
more and more; all the more; at last; finally; (at the) last moment; worst possible time
of all things (days, etc.)
going up in flames; destruction by fire (esp. of a large building); stirring up a storm of criticism online (of an article, tweet, statement, etc.); becoming the target of an Internet pitchfork mob
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
feeling of fellowship; fellow feeling
to call; to invite; to eat; to drink; to put on; to wear; to ride
regret; chagrin; mortification; freedom from obstructive thoughts
person being waited for; person who waits
cry (esp. animal); roar; chirp; tweet; bark; whine
mouthpiece; cigarette holder; cigarette filter (tip); fragrant garnish (for soup)
bits and pieces; frizzily (as in perm)