to step forward; to take a step forward; to start on a project, etc.; to take the first step with
refreshing; exhilarating; invigorating; bracing
at present; currently; so far; for now; for the time being
leading; guiding; commanding
near; neighbourhood; nearly (e.g. "it took nearly one year"); close to; shortly; soon
to keep an eye on; to keep a watchful eye on
road; path; route; way; distance; journey; road (e.g. to victory)
how long; how far; how much
don't you think?; indicates question
other side; opposite side; other party
scenery; scene; landscape
as far as the eye can see
to light (a candle, lamp, etc.); to turn on (a light)
flowers; beautiful; spectacular
hollow; cavity; dent; depression
fantastic; magical; wondrous; whimsical; fairytale-like; romantic
curiously enough; oddly enough; strange to tell
suitable; proper; appropriate; perfunctory; half-minded; sloppy
quite capable of ...; not unlikely to ...; may well ...; might ...; could ...; would not hesitate to ...
school; school building; schoolhouse
manner of speaking; mode of expression; way of saying something
to get carried away; to become over-excited; to push one's luck; to push a good thing too far
careful thought; consideration; deliberation; reflection; rumination; pondering
difficult to understand; difficult to grasp; confusing; puzzling
to yearn (for); to miss; to feel nostalgic (for); to recall fondly
circumference; girth; surroundings; neighbourhood; people surrounding oneself; surrounding circumstances
(turning) round and round; in circles; wrapping around; winding around
now that you say that; now that you mention it
atmosphere; mood; a certain air; presence; (Earth's) atmosphere
one tuft (of hair, threads, etc.); one bunch (of grapes, bananas, etc.); one cluster (e.g. of flowers); one segment (of a tangerine, etc.); one section
inner part; interior; living quarters (at the back of a house); inner room; recesses (of one's mind); bottom (of one's heart)
to begin to walk; to set out
to collapse (of a building, dream, plan, etc.); to be destroyed; to fall through; to be completely defeated (in battle); to be wiped out; to be routed
existence; being; life; survival
to pass down (a story) from generation to generation; to hand down
was it?; I think it was ...; if I've got it right; (I, we) used to ...; I remember ...; it was ...
a few years ago; some years back
great difference; major mistake
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
smell; scent; aura; whiff; faint, mist-like pattern along the temper line of a Japanese sword
to smell; to smell of; to have a smell
to revive; to come to oneself; to be restored to life