fast-talking; rapid talking
faint; indistinct; dim; vague; subtle; delicate
cute; adorable; charming; lovely; pretty
being startled; getting a shock
word for word; verbatim; literally
to sob; to never stop crying; to cry on and on
tempering (metal); annealing; forging; toughening; disciplining; training
crumpled; rumpled; to be annoyed; to be irritated; noisily (chewing)
to disturb; to upset; to ruffle; to stir up; to mess up
100,000,000,000; hundred billion; many
wound; injury; chip; crack; flaw; defect
fan; enthusiast; lover (of); (electric) fan
if one is unlucky; if one is careless
beat; palpitation; pulsation; throbbing
to quicken; to speed up; to gather speed
preparation; arrangements; provision; getting ready; laying out (e.g. a meal)
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool
(and) then; and; thereupon; in that case; then; so
soft; tender; soft (colour, light, etc.); subdued; informal; light
because; the reason is; if you want to know why
becoming a pupil (of); becoming a disciple; introduction (to); primer; entering through a gate
teaching; instruction; teachings; precept; lesson; doctrine
it's no big deal; it's no problem; it's nothing to worry about; safe (and sound); all right
at every opportunity; for each and every thing that crops up; with every little thing; whenever possible; whenever the chance arises; at every turn
champion of justice; knight in shining armor; crime avenger; hero; super hero
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
option; choice; optional extra; individual item; separate item; option
calmness; composure; presence of mind; stability; steadiness
busybody; meddler; nosey parker
to look (sound, behave) grown-up; to be adult-like; to mature
to put on a bold front; to act big; to be unyielding; to act formally; to act stiffly
putting one's life on the line; staking one's life (on); risking one's life; life and death situation
to look out on; to overlook; to face (a situation, crisis, etc.); to meet (e.g. death); to deal with (an issue); to attend (e.g. a function)
favourable; favorable; doing well; OK; all right
root (of a plant); stump (of a tree); root (of a problem, etc.); base
all (that one has); all (that there is); everything; as much as possible; as much as one can; to the utmost
to spill; to drop; to grumble (about); to complain (of); to let (one's feelings) show
frustrated (over a failure, humiliation or injustice); annoyed; chagrined; (bitterly) disappointed; bitter; vexed
absolutely; completely; utterly; really; simply; only