apt to (do); liable to; predominantly; mostly; ... reaps the rewards; ... takes the prize
February; second month of the lunar calendar
sure; certain; reliable; trustworthy; If I'm not mistaken; If I remember correctly
actually; in fact; as a matter of fact
excessive meddling (esp. by parents); excessive interference
(not) at all; (not) in the least; (none) whatsoever
company; friendship; association; society; acquaintance
one's future; one's fate; one's way; one's path
more than friends, less than lovers
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
age thirty; one's thirties
anticlimax; let-down; disappointment; loss of interest
to enter; to trespass; to interfere; to meddle; to pry into
careful; cautious; prudent; discreet; deliberate
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
to be pleased with; to suit
to shed tears; to (begin to) cry
to speak to; to give a (something) talk to; to speak words of (something)
opposition; resistance; antagonism; reverse; opposite; inverse
confused; disordered; faltered; incoherent; inconsistent
to be lost in deep thought; to be deeply immersed in thought
to exchange glances; to correspond; to counterbalance
effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
instability; insecurity; crankiness
useless; vain; aimless; idle
selection; choice; option
route; course; path; one's future course (e.g. after graduating high school)
person one is dating; significant other; partner; boyfriend; girlfriend
superior (in rank); top; higher order (e.g. byte); host computer (of connected device)
not a chance; not likely; oh no; yuck; fault; defect
to flatter; to soft-soap; to sweet talk; to cajole; to instigate
gaining nothing by; getting nowhere by
modesty; humility; being humble
very hard; with utmost effort; as hard as one can; with all one's might; for dear life; eagerly
to whirl; to eddy; to be all jumbled together (feelings, thoughts, etc.); to surge; to sweep
one's house; one's home; one's family
it cannot be that...; it is highly unlikely that...; it is impossible that...
only recently; just of late
to snatch away; to dispossess; to steal
carrying out one's words; being as good as one's word; making good on one's promise
My goodness!; Good lord!; Holy cow!
as before; as ever; as it was originally
crime; sin; penalty; sentence; fault; responsibility