to wager; to bet; to risk; to stake; to gamble
to take someone (to some place); to take someone along; to lead someone away
offensive (movement); aggression
to turn; to shift; to alter; to distract
to recommend; to endorse (e.g. a candidate); to infer (from); to deduce; to think (something) through; to ponder deeply
to build a market for; to promote (a product); to promote oneself; to sell oneself; to sell heavily
to praise (to the skies); to sing the praises (of); to extol
no big deal; no match; not worth worrying about
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
to become misty; to become hazy; to get blurry; to grow dim; to be overshadowed; to be upstaged
to fail; to blunder; to make a mess; to drink up; to eat up
if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say
conversion; reform; correcting someone's conduct
comprehension; consent; understanding; OK; roger (on two-way radio)
receiving; acceptance; reception
that kind of; of the sort; of the kind; such
to leave to chance; to resign oneself to one's fate; to leave the rest to heaven
instead; but (on the other hand)
bad (taste); unpalatable; poor; unskillful; ugly; unattractive
slip; omission; upshot; denouement; punch line (of a joke)
to show up; to appear; to turn up
(one's) Sunday best; (one's) best clothes; glad rags
thunderous roar of laughter (from multiple people); loud burst of laughter; explosive laughter
to do for (someone); to take in; to deceive; to hoodwink
successor; replacement; second wife
to be suitable; to be appropriate; to match
face; mask; face guard; (in kendo) striking the head; surface (esp. a geometrical surface); page; aspect
misfortune; adverse fortune; hapless fate; checkered (life, career, etc.); varied; eventful
dozens; scores of; decades
shelter; cover; screen; shield; obstruction; defilade
indescribable; inexpressible; unspeakable; indefinable; nobody can tell
direct connection; direct link
thank you; thanks; much (thanks); very (sorry); quite; really; somehow
poisonous; toxic; addictiveness
drunkenness; intoxication
fashion sense; sense of fashion
open; frank; liberal; open-minded
pardon; forgiveness; exemption; permission
culmination; acme; height; peak; ultimate; perfection
no problem; all right; not an issue; unobjectionable
guidance; leadership; leading the way
traction; towing; hauling; driving (e.g. economic growth)