several weeks; a few weeks
for no particular reason; for some reason or other; somehow or other
investigator (usu. of criminal cases)
to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
resistance (to heat, corrosion, etc.); tolerance (to a drug, pain, etc.); resistance (to drugs, pesticides, etc.)
to break (by kicking); to kick down (e.g. a door); to kick open; to smash through (e.g. the enemy); to rout
person in charge (including a supervisory role for other staff); person responsible for ...; responsible party; supervisor; manager
spirits; excitement; tension; tension (mental strain); anxiety
astonishing; amazing; surprising; wonderful
as you can imagine; as imagined
to withdraw from (a deal); to wash one's hands of; to lead by the hand
separate case; another matter; different matter; another project
cannot be helped; unavoidable
to draw (conclusion); to deduce; to derive
to look old; to become time-worn; to become worn out; to become old and grubby; to become musty
plunking (down something heavy); flumping (into a chair)
to be absorbed in reading; to get lost in reading; to be immersed in (a book)
to cling to; to hold on to; to grapple; to set about doing; to begin; to possess (someone; of an evil spirit, idea, etc.)
accent (on a syllable, word); stress; intonation; inflection; (language) accent (e.g. American, British); accent (e.g. in a design)
to collect one's thoughts; to gather one's thoughts; to put one's ideas in order
disappearance; running away; going missing; absconding
perplexity; difficult question; difficult problem
sublimation; sublimation (of an impulse); sublimation (i.e. transforming into a purer or nobler form)
be that as it may; even so; though that be so
wobbling; tottering; wavering (e.g. over a decision); dithering; boiling up; dizzily
spell; charm; incantation; magic words
to be crowded with people; to be bustling with; to prosper; to flourish; to do thriving business
point in common; common feature
closing in on (the enemy, first place, etc.); coming close to; pressing hard; pressing hard (e.g. with a question); taking to task; grilling
deliberately; intentionally; on purpose; purposely
possible; conceivable; likely; probable
dead body; corpse; cadaver; carcass
smell of something rotten; rotten smell
how about ...?; I wonder; I don't know
to lose one's cool; to blow one's top; to flip one's lid; to get angry
isolation; segregation; separation; quarantine
frame (physical structure); framework; framework (of a plan, system, etc.); structure; outline