to anticipate; to expect; to place confidence in; to put trust in; to find promising; to see good prospects (in)
to be grateful; to feel grateful; to be thankful
dubious tale; cock-and-bull story; questionable information; taking care not to be fooled
last night; yesterday evening
to hang one's head; to droop one's head
to turn completely into; to become completely
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
concealing one's talents, status, intentions, etc.; maintaining a strict incognito; self-effacement
life; living; I; me; student
struggling; pawing (e.g. horses' hooves)
to sever relations (with someone; esp. a relative or spouse); to break off (with)
screen; curtain; raster; room divider; partition wall
tragedy; tragic drama; tragic play; tragedy; calamity; disaster
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
revolving lantern; ever-changing scene (e.g. life flashing before one's eyes)
to encourage; to cheer on; to cheer (someone) up; to raise (one's voice)
consumer; ordinary citizen; stakeholder; person who lives on (e.g. situation, income, place)
consenting to; agreeing to; understanding; being convinced of; being satisfied
shed skin (of a snake, insect, etc.); ecdysis
limply; wearily; listlessly; languidly; exhaustedly; unenergetically
what with A and B; such things as A and B; A and B and so on; denotes uncertainty
surprise; astonishment; wonder; amazement
abhorrent; abominable; detestable; ominous; inauspicious; unlucky
to hold (in one's hand); to take (into one's hand); to own; to obtain
evening edition (of a daily newspaper); evening paper
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow (i.e. bending of the body); bowing; reward
to disappear into; to slip into; to be lost in; to be mixed up with
to tag along; to follow; to tail; to leave tracks; to leave footprints
skillful; adroit; craft; craftsmanship; plot; scheme
tongue; tongue-like object; clapper (of a bell); talon (of a lock)
patience; forbearance; endurance; forgiveness; pardon
preface; introduction; preamble
to address (someone); to accost a person; to talk (to someone); to begin to talk; to start a conversation
to do oneself; to do by oneself; to start work (on); to commence
to turn away; to bear off; to veer away; to deviate (e.g. of a conversation); to digress; to go astray
blunder; bungle; gaffe; bungling; stupid; tactless
fail-safe; foolproof; totally safe
fiction; made-up story; fable; fabrication; myth
(not) altogether; (not) wholly
to reject; to spurn; to turn down; to refuse
to wind; to coil; to envelope; to shroud; to outflank; to skirt
to tie; to fasten; to wear (necktie, belt); to put on; to total; to sum; to be strict with