independent; responsible; active; subjective
(on) one's own; (by) oneself
to prepare oneself for the worst; to strengthen one's resolve; to accept one's fate; to prepare oneself
to stare back at; to look back at
to grant (a request); to accept; to hear (a prayer); to comply with (a demand)
public performance; exhibition in a foreign country
interruption; discontinuance; suspension; cancellation (of a planned event); calling off
in search of; in order to look for
having the luck to escape trouble (your behaviour has landed you in)
guarantee; security; assurance; warranty
to give the stamp of approval
reliable; dependable; trustworthy; hopeful; promising
in a subdued voice; in undertones; in a whisper; in a mumble; in a murmur
performance (of a play, opera, etc.); staging; presentation
to raise oneself up to one's full height; to strike a daunting pose
creation; production; creative work (novel, film, etc.); fabrication; fiction; invention
starring (in a film, play, etc.); playing the leading part
using every trick in the book; using every trick one knows; by one rouse or another; with careful coaxing; carefully (e.g. nursing a damaged vehicle)
curtain raising; starting (e.g. play, concert)
grandfather; male senior-citizen; old man
grandmother; old woman; female senior citizen
reading aloud; recitation
standard; average; typical; normal
number of characters; number of letters
program (musical, concert, theatrical, etc.); programme
soil; breeding ground (for); fertile ground (for)
rare earth; rare-earth element
mining; digging; working (a mine)
factory; plant; mill; workshop
local industry; traditional local industry
business; enterprise; venture; (social) project; undertaking; enterprise
earnings; proceeds; returns; revenue
capital; funds; seed money; asset
center half; centre half; channel; Order of the Companions of Honour (British order)
philanthropic work; charitable enterprise
nobility; aristocracy; peerage
for generations; from generation to generation; generation after generation; through the ages
rivalry; feud; conflict; dispute; struggle; strife
to spend all one's time doing; to do day in, day out; to do nothing but ...; to pass (of days)