voluntary; optional; free; elective
monaural; monophonic; mono
participation; taking part in; participating in; being concerned in
something something; something or other
metal ring; metal hoop; metal band; trivet
vacuum pack; vacuum packing
fickle; inconstant; capricious; having many romantic interests
to transcribe; to duplicate; to describe; to film; to picture
tender; warm; meticulous; detailed; deep (of a colour); thick (e.g. fog)
to be (too) late getting married; to be (too) late going somewhere
being once divorced; one-time divorcee; (lit.) one x mark (i.e. one name struck from the family register)
master; masterhand; maestro
look who's talking; I don't want to hear it from you; are you in any position to say that?
the same night; that night
to miss one's chance to say; to fail to mention
and; thereupon; because of that
parenthood; parent or someone with children on the way (esp. an expecting mother); (of a fish) containing roe (eggs)
bargain sale; selling cheaply; giving out freely
recollection; reminiscence
the teens (10-19); teenage; the tenth generation
smoke screen; dazzler; camouflage; deceptive means; magic; witchcraft
workmanship; craftsmanship; grades; results; quality (e.g. of a crop); dealings
to get one's head around; to think about
to marry (of a woman); to become a bride; to marry into (a family)
taking advantage of (an opportunity); jumping on the bandwagon; taking passage (in); getting a lift; getting a ride
before I knew it; next thing you know; when I came to
twelve o'clock; noon; midnight
to assemble everything together; to do something as a group
moving about in confusion; going every which way; going this way and that
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
sleepover; overnight stay
to be palatable; to suit one's taste
safe; in (of a ball, in tennis, etc.); all right; OK