taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
dreadful; terrible; horrible; fearsome; formidable; awesome
the extraordinary; the unusual; the unexpected
space (between); gap; period of time (during, while); duration; between (two parties or things); among (a group); relations (between)
to make a mistake; to be incorrect; to be mistaken
distinction; differentiation; classification
otherwise; or else; if not
to subsist; to keep on living
this way; here; the person in question; he; since (a time in the past); prior to (a time in the future)
beyond; across; the other side; the distance
uninterested; unconcerned; plain; light; flowing gently
even; flat; level; calm; peaceful; uneventful
to shut oneself in (e.g. one's room); to be confined in; to be filled with (emotion, enthusiasm, etc.); to fill the room (of a gas, smell, etc.); to be heavy with (e.g. smoke); to be muffled (e.g. voice); to hold (a castle, fortress, etc.)
to creep up; to crawl up; to overcome (a bad situation); to rise (after a setback)
suddenly; casually; accidentally; incidentally; unexpectedly; unintentionally
to go astray; to become corrupt; to go bad
footpath; walkway; sidewalk
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
simile; metaphor; allegory; parable
consent; assent; agreement; understanding; comprehension; grasp
pedestrian crossing; crosswalk
unexpectedly; surprisingly
to meet; to encounter; to see; to have an accident; to have a bad experience
car; automobile; vehicle; wheel
which way; which direction; which one (esp. of two alternatives); who
coming and going; keeping in touch; visiting each other; street traffic; highway
vehicle; conveyance; transport; ride (playground, fair, carnival); playground facility
violation; offense; offence; breach; transgression; infringement
having said that; on the other hand
automatic; intransitive verb
-ical; -ive; -like; -ish; (something) like; along the lines of
straight (ahead); direct; upright; straightforward; honest; frank
scaffold; scaffolding; foothold; footing; foothold (e.g. in business); foundation
fall; drop; descent; coming down
(not so) much; (not) very
to load (a gun, etc.); to charge; to put into (e.g. emotion, effort); to include (e.g. tax in a sales price); to hang over; to shroud
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while