pudding (esp. custard); black hair dyed blond but where the roots have again turned black
novel; story; (work of) fiction
trick; plot device; mystery-fiction trope
every (usu. with events, e.g. every weekend); each
middle of the night; dead of night
to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.); to be bright; to be clear-headed; to be alert; to look upbeat; to be perky; to master (a skill)
to raise one's hand; to surrender; to raise one's hand to someone (as a threat to strike); to become better (at something); to improve; to throw one's hat in the ring
extreme; ultra; mega; damn; stupid; cursed
line; queue; procession; matrix
high-class; high-grade; high-quality; high-ranking; high-level; senior
to chide; to rebuke; to reprove
offender; criminal; culprit
to have a cramp; to be pulled too tight
detective; investigator; sleuth; detective work; secret investigation
playing at (something); game of make-believe; something done together
sensible; perceptive; quick to understand; understanding; sympathetic
to serve as; to act as; to fill (the position of); to play the role of; to be in charge of; to hold (a position)
clearing one's throat; cough
just now; a little while back; a short time ago
even if ...; even supposing that ...
to assume an air of ...; to act ...; to affect ...; to put on airs; to be self-important
derailment; digression; deviation
passion; enthusiasm; zeal
no matter what it takes; by any means necessary; at all costs; by hook or by crook
middle; centre; center; midpoint; heart
step; stair; shelf; layer; grade; level; dan (degree of advanced proficiency in martial arts, go, shogi, etc.)
(place) right in the center; dead center; dead centre; exact middle; heart
latest; newest; late-breaking (news)
to be noticeable; to notice; to catch one's eye
innocence; being not guilty
to remain; to be left over; to be in excess; to be too many
highest; uppermost; topmost; oldest; eldest
with a bonk; with a thump; with a klunk; with a rap
to be unable to endure; to be unable to stand (something); to lose patience
to buy again; to buy anew