easy; simple; easygoing; lighthearted; simplistic
given the situation; now that it has come to this; if it comes to this
to climb; to clamber (over, up); to scramble (up); to scale; to claw one's way up
to lure (someone) toward one; to lure (into); to entice
to devise an elaborate plan; to exercise one's ingenuity; to work out a scheme
to conceal one's true nature or feelings; to feign friendliness; to play the hypocrite
battle of wits; contest of wits
declaration of war; proclamation of war
bombshell announcement; bombshell statement
to force someone to clamp with their teeth; to force into someone's mouth (e.g. a gag); to wedge into a space; to inflict (a blow); to deal (a hit); to pull (a joke)
that; the matter in question
I'm home!; I'm back!; now; at present; just now; a moment ago
menu; schedule; program; menu
bowl; vessel; container; ability; capacity; calibre
to master (a skill); proprietor; manager; leader; chief; master (of arts, science, etc.); master (recording)
soft and flaky (pie, potatoes, squash, etc.); fluffy; crumbly; being pleased with oneself; beaming happily; chuckling to oneself
omitting crucial steps; cutting corners; skimping; tenuki; playing elsewhere on the board instead of responding locally
sauce; Worcestershire sauce
one's turn; one's shift; one's turn on stage; screen time; one's time (to act); one's chance
to hunt out; to flush out; to round up; to impress; to recruit
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
conference; consultation; discussion; negotiation
other than; except for; aside from; apart from; save for
Franz; Franc; Francis; Frantz
comfortable; easy; calm; loose; spacious
beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
timidly; nervously; hesitantly; trembling (with fear); fearfully; anxiously
to get used to; to grow accustomed to; to become skilled in; to become experienced at; to become tame; to become domesticated
individuality; personality; quirk; idiosyncrasy; character; individual characteristic
interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for)
seems to be; appears to have; supposed to be
to finger; to touch; to make changes to; to tinker with; to dabble in; to do as a hobby
common; shared; to be common (to); to be shared (by); -wide
originally; from the start; from the beginning; none the worse (for); (coming out) even; in the same position (as before)
robber; mugger; robbery; burglary
having a habit of stealing things; being light-fingered
vague; ambiguous; shady; disreputable; fuzzy