several minutes; a few minutes
to breathe out; to exhale
thank you for the meal; that was a delicious meal; what a wonderful meal
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
to instruct; to tell to do; to ask to do; to order
to break the ice; to broach a subject; to bring up a topic
judging from appearances; to all appearances; from the looks of it; on the face of it; apparently; seemingly
to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
pride; self-confidence; thinking highly of oneself; being proud of one's abilities or achievements
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); still; all the same; even ... (e.g. "even a genius")
to persevere; to persist; to insist that; to stick to (one's opinion); to remain in a place; to stick to one's post
puzzled; perplexed; quizzical; dubious; suspicious
strength training; resistance training; muscle-building
abdominal muscles; abs; sit-up (exercise)
to be open (to traffic); to lead (to); to flow (of a liquid, current, etc.); to pass (through); to be conveyed (of an intention, meaning, etc.); to be understood (by); to be well versed (in)
empirically; from experience
difference; variation; difference
not quite (right); not very good; somewhat (lacking)
as (much) as possible; as (much) as one can; wherever practicable; if possible
interval; period of time; among; between; good opportunity; chance
period of time (usu. a period of approx. two hours corresponding to one of the signs of the Chinese zodiac); carving; engraving; strictness; cruelty
completely exhausted; dog-tired; dreadfully weary; terribly frustrated; limp; weak
to be dying; to be about to die; to be close to death
approximately; about; promise; appointment; shortening; reduction
at that time; at that moment; then; on that occasion
body; torso; trunk; build; physique; health
continuous; nonstop; consecutive; removing partitions (to create an open space); joining separate rooms into one
to advise strongly; to insist (on something)
of uncertain meaning; ambiguous; cryptic; nonsensical; incomprehensible; perplexing
serious look (on one's face); straight face
cannot avoid doing; cannot help but (do); is compelled to do; (feel) obliged to (do); has to do
to prepare oneself (for the worst); to resolve oneself
decision; settlement; confirmation; establishment
retort; back talk; backchat
it cannot be that ...; it is highly unlikely that ...; it is impossible that ...
briskly; energetically; livelily; efficiently; crisply; vigorously
push-up (exercise); press-up
posture; pose; position; attitude; approach; stance
nodding off (while sitting); dozing
to awaken; to arouse from sleep; to bring to one's senses; to disabuse (someone of); to sober up; to dampen
to sleep; to die; to rest (in peace); to lie idle (e.g. of resources); to lie unused; (arch.) to close one's eyes