to pull (the puppet) strings; to direct things from behind the scenes; to stretch out (and keep going); to linger on
oh!; good heavens!; ugh!; oh no!; ah!; the penny drops!
severe; harsh; stringent; rigorous; strict; unfair
a few minutes; for a few minutes; for a number of minutes; for a period of a few minutes; for several minutes
transfiguration; transformation; change of appearance
to stare at each other; to lock eyes (with)
unsightly; ugly; unseemly; indecent; deplorable; disgraceful
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability; as hard as possible
essence; true nature; substance; reality
until something reaches the very limit; until the very last minute; up to the breaking point
to melt; to liquefy; to dissolve (in a liquid); to bring into solution; to lose (money; through gambling, etc.); to squander
boiling; seething; becoming heated (e.g. of a debate); excitement; soaring (of prices); shooting up
but then; although; though; reasonable; natural; just
convenient; handy; useful
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
convenience; handiness; usefulness
to hang; to droop; to give (e.g. lesson, instruction, scolding) (to someone of lower status); to confer; to drip; to ooze; to leave behind (at death)
thin (air); weak (liquid); dilute; lacking (enthusiasm, consideration, substance, etc.); insubstantial; deficient
distinction; differentiation; discrimination; difference
-smell; stinking of; smacking of; hinting of
below one's eyes; under one's eyes; length (of a fish) from eyes to tail fin
difficult to ...; hard to ...
(laughing) foolishly; (smiling) thoughtlessly; indiscreetly (talking); carelessly (speaking); thin (paper, cloth, etc.); flimsy
standard; criterion; norm; benchmark; measure; gauge
to pity; to sympathize with; to tend to (e.g. an injury); to care for; to appreciate; to recognize (someone's efforts)
haughty; arrogant; insolent; proud; overbearing
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; nuisance; bore; burden
mission; errand; task; duty; obligation
sense of values; values; value system
malicious; vicious; malignant; shoddy; inferior; poor-quality
to be mistaken; to be incorrect; to make a mistake (in); to do incorrectly; to mistake (one thing with another); to confuse
amendment; correction; revision; modification; alteration; retouching
warm; mild; (pleasantly) hot; considerate; kind; genial
circulation; rotation; cycle; loop
to raise one's voice; to shout
to collect; to gather; to save; to accumulate; to pile up
to lend a hand; to give a hand; to help; to extend a helping hand
to pull; to draw; to string (lines); to run (cable); to pull towards oneself (e.g. someone's sleeve); to drag; to haul
flabbily; softly; limply; easily (bend); effortlessly; flexibly
embarrassing; embarrassed; ashamed; disgraceful; shameful