grinding; polishing; refining (a skill, knowledge, etc.); applying oneself (to study); disciplining oneself
not in one's recollection; having no recollection (of); having no memory (of)
separation; divorce; severing of connections
(political) power; authority; influence
similar but different; alike only in appearance; falsely similar; spurious; sham; pseudo-
to make up a shortfall; to cover a shortage; to compensate for a shortage; to fill a gap
another; different; separate; discrete
cannot be avoided (of a problem, etc.); unavoidable; inevitable
bombarding; shelling; bombardment
preservation; retainment; keeping
desirable; hoped for; preferable; advisable
neck; bottleneck; obstruction; neckline
distant place; faraway location; far away
closing in on (the enemy, first place, etc.); coming close to; pressing hard; pressing hard (e.g. with a question); taking to task; grilling
lacking skill; uninspiring; unexciting; dull; unrefined; boring (from being too plain)
negotiations; bargaining; dialogue; duet
private talk; confidential talk; secret talk
this, that and the other; this and that
not serious; frivolous; insincere; unsteady
to be completely absorbed in; to fall for (something)
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
to burst (open); to break; to split
bad condition; poor condition; disorder; failure; rupture; breakdown (e.g. of negotiations)
mental illness; emotional disorder
natural; reasonable; understandable
tearjerker; sob story; maudlin tale
idle talk; chit-chat; gossip
path through forest; woodland path; logging road
back seat (of a car); rear seat
bunch of flowers; bouquet
in a train (car, bus, etc.); on a train
destination; whereabouts; future; prospects
to open (e.g. path); to clear (the way); to break up (e.g. land)
other side; opposite side; other party
seeing off and meeting on return