profit; gains; benefit; advantage; grace (of God, Buddha, etc.) (esp. as attained through rightful actions, prayer, adherence to one's faith, etc.); blessing
society; public; community; social studies
righteousness; justice; right
disadvantage; handicap; drawback; inadvisability; inexpediency; loss
cooperative body; cooperative system; collective; community
to live through hell; to go to hell and back; to suffer dire straits
(if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that; (unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario)
civilian clothes; plain clothes; mufti; plainclothes police officer
to watch for an unguarded moment
nonchalant; unconcerned; in a casual manner
to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise
to seize; to capture; to arrest; to hold down; to subdue
outskirts; environs (of a city); surrounding area; surroundings
(passenger) car; automobile
to begin slipping or sliding; to make a start upon
change; alteration; difference; distinction; something wrong; abnormality
to make merry; to frolic; to be in high spirits
old couple; elderly couple
returning from school; going home from school
employee (of a store); shop assistant; clerk; salesperson
to warp; to bend; to contort; to be perverted; to be warped (of a view, mind, etc.); to be distorted
reminiscence; nostalgia; thinking fondly of the past; recalling the old days
isolation; separation; remoteness; seclusion; reclusion; inaccessibility
after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years
to chase; to run after; to follow (a set order, a trend, etc.); to drive out; to get rid of; to drive (e.g. a herd)
to stop (moving); to come to a stop; to stop (doing, working, being supplied); to come to a halt; to alight; to perch on
quiet (e.g. neighbourhood); peaceful; tranquil
snugly; neatly; compactly; cosily
official residence (e.g. of the prime minister)
to pull; to draw; to string (lines); to run (cable); to pull towards oneself (e.g. someone's sleeve); to drag; to haul
imposing stance; daunting pose
great; excellent; very troublesome; awful; tiring; tough
warm welcome; friendly reception; hospitality; entertainment
low rank; humble station; obscurity
with a snap; (break) cleanly; (rejecting) sternly; flatly; smartly; (dressing up) well
to see through; to see into (someone's heart, mind, etc.); to perceive; to find out; to detect
discerning (quick) eye; keen insight