scriptwriter; playwright; scenario writer
confrontation; to face; to confront; to encounter
moment by moment; hour by hour
to enliven (e.g. a conversation); to animate; to engage in enthusiastically; to become successful and well known
very; extremely; extreme; excessive; splendid; impressive
prizing; valuing highly; esteeming
to create (a sensation); to give rise to (controversy)
principal offence; principal offense; principal offender
underling; person of low standing; grunt; petty (work, official, etc.); minor; lowly
to step into (e.g. someone else's territory); to break into; to raid; to come to grips with; to get to the core of
teasing; banter; ribbing; jest; making fun (of); poking fun (at)
bolt from the blue; great surprise
very bad condition; awful state; night-soil reservoir dug in a field; night-soil pot; earthenware vessel; earthen urn
to contemplate; to ponder; to think long about; to turn over in one's mind
viewing as ...; seeing as ...; treating as ...; regarding as ...
to overdo; to do too much
technical skill; ability; capacity
refreshingly; with a feeling of relief; shapely; neatly; cleanly; without trouble; clearly
to look stupid; to have a critical lack
to chip off; to scrape off; to prune
Murphy's Law ("Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong")
joint together; opposite; facing
checking answers (e.g. to homework problems); verifying one's answers
to show off; to make a display (e.g. of wealth)
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
encircled flower seal (equiv. of a gold star awarded to children for good work at school)
whistling (wind); blowing; fluttering (in the wind); waving; staggering; tottering
right to decide; having say (in a decision)
to elevate; to raise; to lift up; to flatter; to extol; to praise to the sky
presence (impressive quality)
wholly (due to); entirely; solely; earnestly; intently; sincerely
knowing how to swim with the tide; being good at dealing with things
laughing at an inappropriate time; not being able to hold back one's laughter; scornful laughter; snicker; snigger
affectation; showiness; pretence
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
able; capable; competent; talented; efficient
being clearheaded; having a keen (sharp, brilliant) mind