to take the lead (in doing); to take the initiative; to be the leader
in these times; in times likes these; the season being what it is
unnecessary; not needed; not necessary
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
that's a different matter; that's a different story
to perceive; to understand
foil; (gold, etc.) leaf; prestige
dated; date; fixed; external
to get a lump in one's throat; to overflow with feelings; to be overwhelmed with emotion
place for boarding vehicles; bus stop; bus terminal; railway platform; taxi stand; jetty
direct line; direct communication; connecting directly; through service; nonstop service
to transfer (trains); to change (bus, train); to change (to another ideology, party, company, etc.); to switch (to a different system, method, etc.); to move on to (e.g. a new love interest)
distance in a straight line
land route; overland route; by land; overland
to lurk; to be hidden; to be concealed; to lie dormant; to be latent
to carry through; to achieve; to complete
beyond expectations; beyond what one expected; not foreseen; exceeding assumptions
idea; plan; fancy; impulse; thought; whim
to hurry (up); to urge on; to press; to rush
ordinary; sensible; commonplace
blunder; fault; error; mistake; failure; disgrace
characteristic; feature; idiosyncrasy; spot color (in printing)
handwriting; calligraphy specimen; example of penmanship; holograph
degree of familiarity; popularity
to eat; to drink; to receive (e.g. a blow); to be on the receiving end (of something undesirable); to undergo (trouble)
to faint; to lose consciousness; to feel overwhelmed; to be astounded
judging; inspection; examination; investigation; review
to live under another's roof; to become a dependent on; to flatten oneself (against); to lean in close to
to go uninvited; to call on without an invitation; to barge in on; to throng to; to crowd into; to converge upon
turning another away at the gate or front door; refusing to receive a caller
to act as an agent for; to intermediate; to announce (someone's arrival); to answer (the door, the phone); to convey (a message)
voluntary activity; voluntary service; labor of love
leading aristocrat; great house; grand seigneur; boyar
going out; one's best clothes; formal (e.g. language); best (behaviour, manners, etc.)