sincere; earnest; serious
personal history; background; log; record; hysteresis
to be disgusted with; to run out of patience; to fall out of love
obvious; clear; plain; evident; apparent; explicit
pit of the stomach; solar plexus; place where water falls
plausible; believable; solemn; dignified; serious
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
judgment; judgement; discernment
to pass (a car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to outdistance
division (distribution) of roles; role-sharing
before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
position (where one is standing); place where one stands; position; stance; standpoint
present point (i.e. in history); at the present time
throughput; processing power
(sense of) reality; realness; realism; authenticity; viability
to wear (sword, decoration, etc.); to carry; to be entrusted (e.g. with a mission); to take on; to have a trace of; to be tinged with
to exceed (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to surpass; to be more than; to be better than
to refuse; to reject; to decline; to prevent (from doing); to deny (e.g. access); to block
by any means, fair or foul
to shrug (shoulders); to duck (head); to draw back (body)
large number (of); many; majority
clincher; pick-up line; honeyed phrase; telling phrase; phrase that brings someone around, esp. in personal relationships
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
simple work; repetitive job; unskilled work; menial work
last; final; closing; last train (bus, flight, etc.; of the day)
parts; accessories; components
to be degraded; to come down in the world; to lose status; to be ruined; to fall low
to compare (something) to; to liken; to speak figuratively; to use a simile; to use a metaphor
detonator; priming; primer; trigger; impetus; spark
to churn up; to strike up; to throw up; to tip up; to flip up
appearing one after another; cropping up one after another; occurring in succession
leisurely; slowly; soon; shortly; here and there; scattered
cancellation; rescinding; release; calling off; lifting (sanctions); delisting
to be completely absorbed in; to fall for (something)
whereabouts; place; location; place where one belongs; where one fits in; place where one can be oneself
flesh-and-blood; human; warm; compassionate; (lit.) blood-circulating
to mellow; to become softened by maturity
to be shy; to be bashful; to look shy