had better ...; had better not ...
I'm sorry; my apologies; excuse me; pardon me
wrong; not good; hopeless; past hope; must not do
not caring; not giving a damn
accident; incident; trouble; circumstances; reasons
to declare; to speak out; to warn; to spit out (words)
another meeting; meeting again; reunion
inarticulate; not making oneself quite clear; slurring one's words; evasive
bad (taste); unpalatable; poor; unskillful; ugly; unattractive
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
to have (urgent) business; to have something one needs to attend to; to have something one wants to say (to someone)
to respond; to answer; to meet (e.g. demands, expectations); to affect; to take a toll; to strike home
sharp (blade); pointed; sharp (pain); stabbing; perceptive; keen
low (rank, degree, value, content, quality, etc.); low (position); close to the ground; short (height); deep (voice); in a low key
My goodness (expresses surprise, wonder, etc.); very; extremely
promise; agreement; arrangement; something expected or predictable (e.g. running gag); typical or clichéd development (in a story); something considered obligatory or guaranteed (in a certain situation)
government office; public office
not only ... (but also); not merely; as well as; furthermore; besides; moreover
stern; grave; austere; strict (e.g. security); severe; firm
cashier; treasurer; teller
highest grade; superlative degree
of good character; kindhearted; good-natured
duration; continuance; survival; persistence; retention
key; lock; key (to a problem); clue
another; one more; not quite; not very good; lacking
person; character; one's character; one's personality; able person; talented person
anyhow; at any rate; anyway; somehow or other; generally speaking; in any case
to peep (through); to peek; to await (one's chance); to guess; to infer
control; check; restraint; inhibition
to put on (coat, gown, etc.)
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
to satisfy (conditions, one's appetite, etc.); to meet (e.g. demands); to fulfill; to fill (e.g. a cup); to pack; to supply
friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
the other day; a few days ago
doubt; question; uncertainty; skepticism; scepticism; suspicion
to coil about; to follow about; to surround; to cling to
to stiffen; to become stiff
to have no way of knowing; to be completely ignorant of
ironically enough; as irony would have it; in a nice little twist
pain; anguish; distress; suffering; hardship
to soften; to moderate; to relieve