deep blue; bright blue; ghastly pale; pallid; white as a sheet
for a short while; for a while; for some time; for the time being
to disagree; to dispute; to fight (over)
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
old friend; old acquaintance
cry (esp. animal); roar; chirp; tweet; bark; whine
with a start; with a jump
deer (esp. the sika deer, Cervus nippon); cervid
to live; to make a living; to get on with
cattle (Bos taurus); cow; beef; Chinese "Ox" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
God; god; ace; king; superior person
fallen scraps; scatterings; leftovers; remainder; student who cannot keep up in school; dropout (from school, society, a movement, etc.)
to get irritated; to get annoyed; to be on the edge; to fret; to lose patience
confession; acknowledgement; acknowledgment
gifted education; special education for gifted children
to shrink back; to wince; to flinch; to recoil
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
to take over; to capture; to seize; to hijack (vehicle, account, etc.)
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
for two people's eyes to meet; catching someone's eye; making eye contact; meeting a person's gaze
another meeting; meeting again; reunion
aloof; proudly independent; standing apart; solitary
absorption; suction; attraction
becoming a pupil (of); becoming an apprentice
to defy accepted norms; to go off the rails; to be eccentric
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
leader of a delegation (body, party)
to lead (a) life (usu. preceded by the type of life)
wordly things; common customs; the world; the (common) people; secularity
practice; training; drill; (an) exercise; workout