with a crack; with a smash
to be saved; to be rescued; to escape harm; to be spared damage; to be helped; to be saved trouble
without; unacceptable; not alright; unsatisfactory
to work; to labor; to function; to operate; to commit (e.g. a crime); to perpetrate
shortage of talented people; shortfall in human resources
to arrive at (e.g. a decision); to reach (a stage); to lead to (a place); to get to; in the extreme case of; (arch.) to come
to exceed; to be even more (so); to exaggerate
dubious tale; cock-and-bull story; questionable information
advantage; benefit; merit; good point; plus
naturally; in due course; by itself; of its own accord
tradition; legend; folklore
taking on a life of its own (of a rumour, etc.); walking by oneself; talking a walk by oneself; walking unaided; being able to walk without help; standing on one's own feet
rumour; rumor; report; hearsay; gossip; common talk
to cross over; to go across; to extend; to cover; to range
now (when it is already much too late); at this stage; afresh; anew; again
to be sullen; to be offended; to be huffy; to be stuffy; to be stifling; to be muggy
(outward) looks; features; face; countenance; expression
to stare back (at); to glare back
objection; refutation; rebuttal; counterargument
how long; how far; how much
anxiety; uneasiness; worry; apprehension; fear; insecurity
to a surprising degree; to a remarkable extent; surprisingly; astonishingly; amazingly; alarmingly
metamorphosis; disguise; transformation; shapeshifting; morphing
to part (usu. of people); to part from; to separate (of a couple); to break up; to lose (e.g. one's mother); to be bereaved
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
nothing but; nothing more than; nothing less than
to think; to consider; to think (of doing); to plan (to do); to judge; to assess; to imagine
just like; (virtually) no different from; (almost) the same as; as good as (e.g. dead, settled)
living; life (one's daily existence); livelihood
to swear; to vow; to take an oath; to pledge
by all means; at all costs; absolutely
to carry off; to run away with; to sweep away; to take entirely for oneself; to monopolize
to turn one's hand to; to reach out one's hand; to get involved in; to make a move on; to strike; to beat
important; momentous; essential; principal; major
even if; (it doesn't matter) whether (A or B or ...); whatever; should
deplorable; regrettable; disappointing; vexing; unfortunate
siblings; brothers and sisters; brothers; siblings-in-law; brothers-in-law; mate