to pick up; to adopt (a proposal); to take up (a topic); to take issue with; to make a problem of; to report (news); to cover
to become a (bad) habit; to become a habitual practice; to become addictive; to grow on one; to become moreish
sulky look (often with puffed cheeks); sullen look; pout; glower
to soothe and humor; to coax
attendee; participant; person present
by nature; naturally; by birth; since birth; in one's (entire) life
affable; sociable; friendly
exchange (e.g. cultural); interchange; interaction; alternating current; AC
conviction; belief; confidence
(one's) inner voice; voice of one's heart; what one really thinks
to be better (than); to be superior; to surpass; to excel; to be excellent
any moment now; any minute now; as soon as possible; right away
intelligence gathering; information gathering
with a click; with a snap; ornamental clip (hair, obi, etc.)
to snap one's fingers; to pop one's fingers; to crack one's knuckles
I got it; I see; I now know; so that's the reason
corridor; hallway; passageway
after a short time; in a short while; a short time later
decently; gracefully; plausibly; politely; tactfully; discreetly
new; novel; fresh; recent; latest; up-to-date
to cite as an example; to refer to; to quote
to trick someone (into confirming or revealing the truth); to ask a leading question
to be based on; to take into account; to build upon; to have one's feet firmly planted on; to plant oneself on
imitation; copy; make-believe; doing something in a way that only superficially resembles the real thing
will; desire; eagerness; interest; drive; motivation
nonsense; no meaning; meaningless
performance (at a party or banquet, etc.); side show; entertainment
to have meaning; to be meaningful
with a shiver (down one's spine); with a sudden chill
precondition; prerequisite
to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby); to embrace; to have sex with; to make love to; to sit on (eggs); to brood
to fix upon (one-sidedly); to (ignore someone's position and) arbitrarily decide something is the case; to scold; to take (a person) to task
support; backing; endorsement; propping up; holding up; support
embodiment; manifestation; materialization; materialisation; expression; indication
to get angry; to snap; to blow one's top; to lose one's temper; to flip
to fit (e.g. a pane into a frame); to insert (e.g. a cork); to put on (something that envelops; e.g. a ring, gloves); to place (a hoop) around; to pigeonhole (into a particular category); to force (into a mold); to entrap
ingenious; skillful; clever; deft; sophisticated
scary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
imitation; fake; phony; pseudo-
common sense; common knowledge; common understanding
to overlook (a mistake, fault, etc.); to tolerate; to let pass; to give someone a break; to let someone off lightly; to be lenient
it says ...; it reads ...; ... is written
selection; sorting; culling; screening; triage
to be oversensitive; to be nervous; to be overly concerned; to worry too much
anyone; anybody; everyone; whoever
straight to the point; point-blank; frank; direct