hearsay; rumor; grapevine
what with this and that; for a number of reasons
contacting; (making) contact; connection (with a train, bus, etc.); joining (a railway line, etc.); connection (between matters, incidents, etc.); relation
bodyguard; bouncer; bar (e.g. on a door); bolt; stick or pole used for self-defence
(not) even once; (not) ever
worth; merit; value; good point; redeeming feature; saving grace
name; title; appellation; (under the) pretext (of); pretense
often; again and again; over and over again; repeatedly; frequently
structure; construction; makeup; framework; organization; pattern
drawing; picture; diagram; sight; scene
arrangement; preparations; search (by police)
large quantity; massive (quantity); mass (e.g. mass production, mass transit, mass destruction)
at the last moment; this late in the game
to sniff out; to get wind of
to kindle; to build a fire; to instigate; to stir up; to incite
robbery; pillage; seizure; hijacking; plunder; extortion
curtain; bunting; act (in play)
spoiled fun; loss of interest; damper (e.g. on the party); wet blanket; turn-off
will; probably; may; I think; surely; I hope
to have a drink; to have a few drinks
craftsman; artisan; tradesman; worker; workman
to hold in one's arms; to carry in one's arms; to have (problems, debts, etc.); to take on (a responsibility); to employ; to have (on one's staff)
financial power; financial means; wealth
influence; clout; leverage
royalty and titled nobility
average; medium; mid-grade (item); regular grade; same level as; equal to
only; just; since; after; remaining (in a particular state)
indication; sign; hint; tone (of the market)
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
greeting; greetings; speech (congratulatory or appreciative); address; reply; response; revenge
near oneself; close to one; familiar
to be fragrant; to smell (good); to stink; to smell (bad); to glow; to be bright
evening; night; nighttime
to go uninvited; to call on without an invitation; to barge in on; to throng to; to crowd into; to converge upon
I'm sorry; (it's) inexcusable; thank you very much (for help, etc.)
such ... as; or some such
what kind of business; what sort of matter
greeting; a fine thing to say
to drag into; to pull into; to lure inside; to win over; to entice into
stone weight (as used on pickle-tub covers); weight (as used in balances)
et cetera; etc.; and the like; the likes of; something like