doubtful; questionable; uncertain; disputable; suspicious
immediate; prompt; quick; rapid; urgent; pressing
earnest; sincere; pressing; urgent; pertinent; appropriate
to become loose; to slacken (e.g. rope); to become less tense; to relax; to slacken (e.g. coldness, supervision); to become lax; to become softer (e.g. ground, facial expression)
good at storytelling; good at telling (funny) stories; having the gift of gab
at any rate; in any event; either way; anyway
to refuse; to reject; to inform; to give notice; to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from)
ringleader; main culprit; main cause; source
to shift one's attention to; to shift one's focus on
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
mess; spoiled; spoilt; (come to) nothing; ruin
attack under the cover of darkness; surprise attack; sneak attack
to raise; to bring to (someone's attention); to appeal to (reason, emotions, etc.); to work on (one's emotions); to complain; to sue (a person)
relief; reassurance; recognition of right to land ownership (by the shogunate, a feudal lord, etc.); (arch.) living safely surrounded by walls
still more; even more; all the more; still less; even less
to bark; to howl; to howl (e.g. of the wind); to roar; to yell; to cry
to talk back; to answer back; to retort; to say over; to repeat (what one has said)
something; something or other; so-and-so; somehow; anyhow; one way or another
duty; obligation; responsibility
end; tip; end (of the year, month, etc.); close; youngest child; descendants; offspring
failure; collapse; breakdown; break-up; bankruptcy
demand; firm request; requisition; requirement; desire
no matter what; whatever happens; in any situation; rain or shine
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
to take pains; to take time for someone; to do work for someone; to go to trouble for someone
to resolve; to ready (oneself); to make up one's mind
negotiations; discussions; connection
to return; to come home; to leave; to get home; to get to home plate
call; visit; inquiry; enquiry; question
as you see; as you can see
to sleep like a log; to sleep deeply
to deduct; to take away; to make allowances for something; to bear something in mind; to ebb and flow
difficult; tough; formidable; redoubtable; stubborn
to gain time; to play for time; to buy time
to take measures (in face of events being anticipated); to come to an agreement (in bargaining, etc.); to strike a bargain; to clap one's hands together
action; conduct; behaviour; behavior; mobilization; mobilisation
in 8 or 9 cases out of ten; in all probability
seeming; giving the appearance of; giving one the feeling of