custom; convention; tradition; mores; conventional practice
collaborator; cooperator; coworker; ally
friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
leaving a matter to chance
to gulp down (alcohol, poison, etc.); to quaff; to down
not a word to anyone; keep it secret; mum's the word
deep inside; innermost place
expertise; specialized knowledge; technical knowledge; expert knowledge
encroachment; invasion; erosion (e.g. of market share, rights); erosion; corrosion
curse; spell; malediction
mission; delegation; mission (assignment); (religious) mission; mission school; transmission (in a motor vehicle)
investigation (e.g. into someone's guilt); questioning; pressing; catching up; overtaking
one night; all night; overnight; one evening
to empty; to remove; to move out; to clear out; to be away from (e.g. one's house); to leave (temporarily); to dawn
promise; agreement; arrangement; something expected or predictable (e.g. running gag); typical or clichéd development (in a story); something considered obligatory or guaranteed (in a certain situation)
discouraged; dispirited; despondent
counselor; counsellor; adviser; advisor
eggplant (Solanum melongena); aubergine
caller; visitor; company; guest
still; yet; more; still more; furthermore; in addition
to discern (e.g. right from wrong); to discriminate; to distinguish; to know (manners, one's place, etc.); to understand; to bear in mind
senior; elder; person older than oneself
indefinite; hazy; vague; unsettled; undecided
to drop in; to go see (someone); to come to hang out
attacking a fleeing enemy; additional blow to an already unfortunate situation; rubbing salt into a wound
to fold one's arms; to link arms with someone
footprints; record of page visitors (e.g. in social networking sites)
preventing (someone) from leaving; confinement; keeping indoors; being stranded; grounding
new work; new production; new composition; new creation; new title
to scheme; to plan; to play a trick; to invent; to conspire; to frame up
to twine around; to twist around; to coil around; to pester; to hassle
at full speed; as fast as one's legs can carry one
intelligence; intellect; brains
to conceive; to become pregnant; to get filled with (e.g. sails filled with wind); to be swollen with; to contain (a contradiction, danger, etc.); to carry (a problem, consequences, etc.)
movement (of one's body); moving about; stirring; acting freely; doing as one pleases
reason; circumstances; grounds; because of; due to; as a result of