act of God; irresistible force; inevitability; force majeure; vis major
very; extremely; like the devil; as a demon
in spite of; nevertheless; although; despite; no matter the; regardless of
absurd; ridiculous; nonsense; excessive; extreme
foolish thing; stupid thing; absurdity
to collect the best; to put together the cream of the crop
broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
certified (as genuine, valuable, etc.); guaranteed (article); of established reputation; acknowledged; pièce de résistance
synthesis; coordination; putting together; comprehensive
vast; huge; immense; malva nut (Sterculia lychnophora)
to snatch (and run); to carry off; to swipe; to scoop up (and remove; sand, earth, etc.)
management; dealing with; course of events; circumstances; end result (usu. bad); outcome
to sweat and slave; to toil away
extremely; terrifically; super
to be descended from; to inherit (a disposition, etc.) from one's ancestors
control; check; restraint; inhibition
this and that; this or that; one thing or another; around; about; round about
indigenous people; native people; aborigines
autonomy; right of self-government
descendant; posterity; offspring
nonsense; no meaning; meaningless
condition; state of preservation
besides; furthermore; on top of that; and yet; nevertheless; even so
disorderly; messy; absurd; unreasonable; very; extremely
dainty; delicate (e.g. fingers); fine; sensitive; delicate (feelings, sense, etc.); subtle
transfer; assignment; conveyance
without cause; without reason
standard; basis; criterion; norm; reference; datum
mass culture; pop culture; popular culture; culture of the people (as opposed to the elite)
custom; convention; common practice; (arch.) becoming accustomed (to)
equal; identical; the same; no different (to); just like; equivalent
site; point on a map; spot
to seize (someone) by the collar; to grab (someone) by the scruff of the neck; to collar (someone)
prosperity; bustle; activity; crowd; turnout
to lean against; to set against
(mental) agony; anguish; suffering; distress
understanding and acceptance; spiritual awakening; a heart that understands truth; (feeling of) resignation
to deduct; to take away; to make allowances for something; to bear something in mind; to ebb and flow