disappearance; running away; going missing; absconding
it's no joke; gimme a break!
to support (a theory, claim, etc.); to back up; to substantiate; to prove
something heard for the first time; hearing something for the first time
(teacher's) platform; podium; dais
to aggravate; to complicate; to make worse
because; the reason is; if you want to know why
nothing but (this); no more than (this); none other than
to establish an emotional bond with; to reach out to; to relate to
(theatrical) blackout; taking a (sudden) turn for the worse; rapid deterioration
uneasiness; vague apprehension; premonition
to forebode; to have a presentiment
mistake; error; fault; slip; blunder; omission
previous day; day before; eve; prior day; preceding day
presentiment; premonition; hunch; to have a premonition; to have a hunch
to invite; to ask; to beckon; to wave someone in; to call in; to send for
absurd; ridiculous; silly; ludicrous; nonsensical; asinine
accumulation (of discontent, frustration, etc.); buildup; suppression (e.g. of anger)
basking in the sun; sunbathing
stubborn; obstinate; pigheaded
to bend; to crook; to lean; to tilt; to bend (the truth); to distort
to press a question; to cross-examine
reverse; opposite; converse (of a hypothesis, etc.); inverse (function)
pep-up; reassurance; pick-me-up; restorative; energizer
persuasiveness; powers of persuasion; cogency
sullenly; taciturnly; morosely; taciturn person; uncommunicative person
to say no more; to sink into silence
safety; welfare; well-being
to choke; to have trouble breathing
with a tap; with a knock; smoothly (proceed); without a hitch; even; equal
play; playing; pleasure; amusement; play (in a mechanism, e.g. a steering wheel); slack
cold; indifferent; unfriendly; unsympathetic; unkind
to hear a rumor; to get wind of
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; the explanation is that ...; it is that ...
to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise
damp; humid; wet; gloomy; melancholy; depressing
not the time for; not the place for; far from; far more than; nowhere near just; well beyond
(public) notice; attention; public eye; public gaze
ideal; perfect; most suitable; just right
or; either ... or; maybe; perhaps; some ... and others ...; sometimes ... and at other times ...
by all means; no matter what; at any rate
illness (usu. excluding minor ailments, e.g. common cold); disease; bad habit; bad behaviour; crazy; insane
granny; grandma; gran; old lady; old woman