fantasy; illusion; vision; dream
very fast; in a twinkle; before one's eyes
prevailing view; common opinion; general consideration
(out of) desperation; (as a) last resort; (driven by) pain
every time; whenever; as; whether; in (either case)
(poor) treatment; (bad) behavior; behaviour; action; act
to bungle; to make things awkward
(a) weakness; shortcoming; failing; sore point
to be irritated; to get annoyed; to lose one's patience
sentiment; emotions; one's feelings; one's heart
to strip a person of all his or her clothes; to leave someone with nothing; to leave someone penniless; to steal someone blind
to catch the eye; to attract attention
(cutting) with a single stroke; lopping off (branches, etc.); (cutting hair) short; drastically (slash a budget, etc.); resolutely; ruthlessly (discard, etc.)
pain; anguish; distress; suffering; hardship
to close one's eyes; to lower one's eyelids; to shut one's eyes; to die; to breathe one's last
permission; allowance; acceptance; tolerance; pardon
to exchange (messages, thoughts, etc.); to communicate
to burst into tears; to burst out crying; to begin to cry; to be moved to tears
to underrate; to belittle; to look down on; to despise
at this stage; at this point; now (contrasting with the past)
the same generation; coeval
real feeling; actual feeling; to actually feel; to have a real feeling (that ...); to experience personally
mincing; chopping finely; short and repeated (movements) (e.g. trembling, stepping quickly); gradual; bit by bit
starting point; starting line
to be hesitant; to feel timid
ignorance; innocence; stupidity
obscure; vague; ambiguous
to speak distinctly; to speak clearly; to put it bluntly; to get to the point; to be frank
to take over; to capture; to seize; to hijack (vehicle, account, etc.)
ghastliness; dreadfulness; grimness; intimidation; menace; threat
diffidence; losing one's nerve; feeling awkward; feeling timid; being daunted
owner; proprietor; possessor (e.g. of talent, beauty, etc.)
to press against; to push against; to force against; to foist on (task, responsibility); to impose (one's will)
to steal; to plagiarize; to steal (a technique, idea, etc.); to do stealthily; to do during scant time; to steal a base
to commit (e.g. crime); to perpetrate; to break (e.g. rule); to violate; to rape; to violate
et cetera; etc.; and the like; the likes of; something like
(as for (that)) thing; (given (that)) thing; matter; (it is a ...) thing; matter; fact
house hunting; searching an entire house; searching a house thoroughly
to pilfer; to filch; to swipe