contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
to not believe one's ears
indicates concession or compromise; indicates permission
to talk or say too much; to go too far; to overstate; to exaggerate
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
paradise; heaven; Kingdom of Heaven
bed; berth; crib; cot; kip; bedroom
earnings from a part-time job
hobby; pastime; tastes; preference; liking
to walk about; to walk around; to walk to and fro; to pace around; to wander
because of; owing to; due to
sense of values; values; value system
covering; filled in; complete; total; cliched; clichéd; plaintext
to stay at (e.g. hotel); to be docked; to be berthed; to be moored
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman
to do something in readiness for; to get something (needful) done
favorite; favourite; habitually used
to become blue; to turn green; to turn pale; to blanch (with fear)
counter for nights of a stay; overnight stay; lodging
meeting up; gathering; assembly; set
plentiful; lot of; much; pile of
to tickle; to tickle (one's curiosity, vanity, etc.); to arouse; to make laugh; to amuse
giving one's name (or rank, etc.); self-introduction; name readings of kanji
grudge; complaint; reproach
top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat
whirl of busyness; flurry of activity; being rushed off one's feet; having a very busy time (doing)
exactly as stated; verbatim
to fly about; to flutter about; to flit about; to fly past each other
right away; without delay; as soon as possible; very soon
people; men and women; each person; everybody
sticky; persistent; insistent; nagging
to entangle; to entwine; to pick a quarrel; to find fault; to be involved with; to be influenced by
to press against; to push against; to force against; to foist on (task, responsibility); to impose (one's will)
query; interrogation; enquiry; question; inquiry
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
to let (someone) hear; to tell (e.g. a story); to make (someone) listen; to make (someone) understand; to grip (someone) with skilful singing, storytelling, etc.; to hold (someone) enchanted by