smooth; undisturbed; uninterrupted; harmonious
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
to be at a loss; to be puzzled; to be perplexed; to be pressed for; to be pinched for; to become poor
(as for (that)) thing; (given (that)) thing; matter; (it is a ...) thing; matter; fact
to coax; to cajole; to wheedle; to roll up and put into (something); to bundle up
friendship; friendly relations; connection; relation; intimacy
to lend an ear (to); to hear out; to listen to
to jump at the chance; to accept an offer; to show interest in; to accept a proposal
grabbing hold; eagle grip; tight hold
to press down; to hold down; to pin down; to suppress (feelings, disorder, opposition, etc.); to repress
pleading; entreaty; supplication; petition
brother-in-law (spouse's older brother or older sister's husband); older stepbrother
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
reconstruction; rebuilding; restructuring
to write (a new novel, play, song, etc.); to write (an original work for a specific purpose); to write specially (for)
state of the war; war situation
with a snap; (breaking) cleanly; (rejecting) sternly; flatly; smartly; (dressing up) well
to weaken; to grow weak; to be downcast; to be dejected; to be troubled; to be at a loss
kind, careful, and thorough (of an explanation, advice, etc.); thoughtful and scrupulous
explanation; commentary; exposition; elucidation
unbelievable; incredible; implausible
friend; companion; comrade; accompaniment; companion (e.g. book); complement
to fish; to angle; to catch; to lure in; to tempt; to attract
according to plan; as planned; on target
came here; coming here; recently
function; facility; faculty; feature
to be helpful; to be useful
to start the debate; to get the ball rolling; to fire the first shot; to start a conversation
to kick the bucket; to drop dead; to die; to be pooped; to be exhausted; to be knackered
same time; simultaneous; concurrent; synchronous
connection; linking; linkage; link; liaison; contact
to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
to jump in; to dive in; to fly in; to rush in; to dash in
to be at a loss how to continue an offensive; to be frustrated by impregnable defences
to leap back; to jump back
beforehand; in advance; ahead of time; previously
autograph; signature; sign; signal; indication
strong arm; stout arm; ability to carry out a difficult job; capable person
cushion; cushion (to soften the blow); mitigation
with a plop; with a plonk; with a plunk; with a flop