busyness; a lot of things to do; frequent use; heavy use (of); many uses
a few years ago; some years back
show (of power, ability, etc.); exhibition; demonstration; display; manifestation
How did you like ...?; How about ...?; What's going on?; How's it going?
edged tool; cutting instrument; knife
to butt into a conversation (from someone uninvolved)
to taper to a point; to become pointed; to be on edge; to be nervous; to be sharp (of a voice, words, etc.); to be harsh
to settle (in a place); to settle down
distribution (e.g. films, rice); rationing (e.g. food, gasoline); food ration
quick; prompt; without delay; simple; easy; effortless
around here; hereabouts; (around) this point; about now
area; vicinity; side; edge; circumstances
conspirators; faction; cabal; clique
to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
to cross; to go across; to go through; to cut across
to grow thickly; to be overgrown; to thrive; to grow in abundance
the grass; grassy place (esp. with long dense grass)
still; much more; (not) yet; still a long way to go; still a long way off; not there yet
to be caught in; to be stuck in; to stop by; to drop in for a short visit; to get mixed up in (trouble); to get entangled in (a problem); to fall for (a trick)
same kind; same sort; same species; same race; homogeneity
group action; collective behavior; collective behaviour; acting as a group
how should I put it?; what shall I say?; well, you know; like
to be sore; to be inflamed; to be bleary; to be dissipated; to be dissolute; to indulge in
trouble; burden; nuisance; care; dependence; support
being done for; giving up; being in a hopeless situation; not knowing what to do; being brought to one's knees; (lit.) throwing up (one's) hands
to chase; to run after; to pursue; subsequently; following that; (and) then
to get worse; to deteriorate; to go from bad to worse; to spoil (of food); to go bad; to perish
rice grown on dry land; dry land rice plant
astringent; bitter; austere; elegant (and unobtrusive); sour (look); glum
antipathy; reluctance; resistance
to plant; to grow; to insert; to transplant; to inoculate (e.g. an infectious agent); to instill (idea, value, etc.)
nest; rookery; den; haunt; (spider's) web
to draw; to paint; to depict; to describe; to picture in one's mind; to imagine
going up in flames; destruction by fire (esp. of a large building); stirring up a storm of criticism online (of an article, tweet, statement, etc.); becoming the target of an Internet pitchfork mob
-itis (indicating an inflammatory disease)
here and there; various places; all around; muddled; confused; in the wrong order
many; much; majority (of); greater part (of); mostly; mainly
to shoot (a gun, person, etc.); to fire
management; dealing with; course of events; circumstances; end result (usu. bad); outcome