advance; moving forward; progress
heavy blow; thump; wallop; belt; whack
since then; from that time; ever since
(not) particularly; (not) especially; (not) specially; separately; apart; additionally
refreshingly; with a feeling of relief; shapely; neatly; cleanly; without trouble; clearly
handsome man; man's looks; good looks; manliness
easy; trifling; harmless; nothing of the sort; not at all
impressions; thoughts; feelings; reactions
vivid; bright; brilliant; skillful; skilful; adroit
firmly; flatly; definitely (wrong, different, etc.); absolutely; by far; far and away
(sense of) cleanliness; (sense of) freshness; clean impression
casual; unconcerned; nonchalant; ordinary; normal; regular
shy; bashful; timid; reserved
comparatively; relatively; fairly; rather; pretty; unexpectedly
to become familiar with; to get used to; to become accustomed to; to come to fit; to go (well) with; to suit
pleasant (of a sensation); comfortable; cheerful; happy; smooth (of function); working well
to close one's eyes partly; to squint; to smile with one's whole face; to smile sweetly (at); to look fondly (at)
to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
among (other things); especially; particularly; inter alia; above all (else)
hard to please; difficult; particular; bad-tempered; in a bad mood; displeased
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
persistence; single-mindedness; sticking to one point; always making the same bet
whispering into a person's ear
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
to be jealous of; to be envious of; to envy
trampling down; overrunning; infringement; violation
to be injured; to sustain a wound
official; governmental; public (use, matter, forum, etc.); common; being public knowledge; being out in the open
puppet; marionette; puppet (person, organization, government, etc.); figurehead; (arch.) prostitute
assistance; help; aid; support; reinforcement
overserious; deeply sincere; very earnest
to associate with; to keep company with; to go out with; to go along with; to follow someone's lead; to accompany someone
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
dryness; aridity; drying (e.g. clothes); insipidity
legume (esp. edible legumes or their seeds, e.g. beans, peas, pulses); bean; soya bean (Glycine max); soybean; female genitalia (esp. the clitoris); kidney; small
minimum; lowest; minimal; at a minimum
to buy; to purchase; to value (highly); to think highly of; to incur (someone's anger, displeasure, etc.); to elicit (e.g. sneers)
to inquire (about); to enquire; to ask; to interrogate; to question intensely; to grill (someone about something)
nonchalant; unconcerned; in a casual manner