I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
signalling with the eyes; exchanging looks; winking
chance; start; cue; excuse; motive; impetus
the world in general; society; convention
public opinion; popular voice; public sentiment; consensus
minimum; lowest; minimal; least
to stop; to stay (e.g. the night); to contain; to keep (in position, in place); to record (e.g. a fact); to retain
scandal; deplorable event
as much as possible; as far as possible; whenever possible; if (at all) possible
concealment; suppression; hiding
revealing (information, a secret, etc.); disclosure; telling; letting out
to warn against; to caution against; to admonish; to scold; to prohibit; to forbid; (arch.) to be cautious
contribution (furthering a goal or cause); services (to a cause)
one cause; one reason; one factor
barrier; obstacle; difficulty; hurdle; deadlock
connection (to a person, place, etc.); relation; affinity
regular; normal; formal; legal; established; legitimate
procedure; process; proceedings; formalities
halfway; midway; partway; mid-course
to have a catch; to have an ulterior motive; to be more (to something)
thinly; slightly; vaguely; a little
to sense; to suspect; to get an inkling (of something); to get wind of; to smell (e.g. danger); to become aware of (e.g. a plot)
forbidding to speak; muzzling (a person); bribing into secrecy; hush money
taking no notice; ignoring; not even looking at
gentle (nature, personality, etc.); mild; quiet; moderate (statement, measure, etc.); mild; temperate
to act timid (about doing); to show diffidence; to feel ashamed; to feel guilty
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that...
average; mean; balance; equilibrium
horsepower; hp; energy; vitality; horse-drawn cart
to praise; to commend; to compliment; to speak well of; to speak highly of
to have; to possess; to own; to be endowed with
to make a mistake (in); to commit an error; to be wrong; to be incorrect; to mislead; to misguide
zero; 0; nought; nothing; zilch
depending on; as soon as; immediately after; as (e.g. "as one is told", "as one wishes"); whatever (e.g. "whatever is at hand"); order; program
educational institution; educational facilities
instability; insecurity; crankiness
solicitude; consideration; concern; (excessive) kindness
to measure; to weigh; to survey; to conjecture; to infer; to surmise
to coil around; to follow about; to be related to; to concern; to be associated with
goes without saying; needless to say; obvious
particle; atom; little piece; not at all; not the slightest
to be perturbed; to be agitated
feigned; pretending (not to know)
old friend; old acquaintance
trouble; problem; mess; difficulty; nuisance
to give advice; to counsel; to take part in a consultation
being in charge of (esp. a class or subject); taking charge of; class teacher; homeroom teacher; form teacher