taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
to have an interest (in something); to feel inclined (toward doing something)
(not) a soul; (not) a single person
consideration; taking into account
to shake; to sway; to rock; to become unstable; to become unsettled; to be shaken
to melt into; to dissolve into; to merge into; to blend into (surroundings); to fit in; to adapt to
to catch and tie up; to apprehend; to entangle; to trap; to brush out (e.g. dust, fur, plaque); to extract
conscious; deliberate; intentional
gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
to forbid; to ban; to prohibit; to suppress (a feeling, laughter, etc.); to hold back (e.g. tears)
tight-lipped; able to keep a secret
to finger; to touch; to make changes to; to tinker with; to dabble in; to do as a hobby
essence; true nature; substance; reality
foolish question; stupid question; one's question
additional; extraordinary; outside the norms; special case
to be thrilled; to be excited
low-quality products; strange thing; strange combination
frame; framework; border; box; limit; restriction; category
to transfer (to a different place, group, etc.); to change; to move to the next stage (of a plan, etc.); to divert (one's attention) to; to focus on (something different); to spend (time); to let (time) pass
to deepen; to heighten; to intensify
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding (a runner) on base
breakthrough (research, etc.); breach; opening
to have the personal support of (an influential person); to be under the patronage of
to bring near; to bring close; to let go near; to associate with; to bring (people) together; to let come near (of a person)
to give no leeway; to press (for an answer, etc.); to shower (questions on someone)
imprudence; misbehavior; misbehaviour; misunderstanding
pessimism; (taking a) gloomy view; discouragement; despondency; despair; disappointment
optimism; taking an optimistic view
mostly; ordinarily; probably; most; almost all; ordinary
to decide to; to pretend that; to make a practice of doing; to make it a rule to
cannot be helped; unavoidable; pointless; useless; hopeless (person); annoying
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
to be overawed; to be overwhelmed; to be overcome; to be intimidated; to be daunted
speech; eloquence; manner of speaking; manner of expression
overheating; excessive heating; superheating (heating a liquid above its boiling point without causing it to boil); going to excess; running too hot
to get lost; to lose one's bearings; to be puzzled; to be perplexed; to be tempted; to be seduced
groping (for); fumbling around (for); searching (for an answer, solution, etc.); trying to find
to draw (conclusion); to deduce; to derive
if it is (the case that ...)
foundation stone; cornerstone