pure-bred (usu. animal); pure-blooded; thoroughbred
outstanding talent; person of exceptional talent; gifted person
setback; failure (e.g. plans, business); frustration; discouragement
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
choosing between two things; two choices
to court; to woo; to approach defiantly
such (about the actions of the listener, or about ideas expressed or understood by the listener); like that; that sort of
absentmindedness; dreaminess; simpleton; fool
lack of ability; incompetence; incapacity
heart and soul; all one's heart; all one's energy
to pile up; to make a heap; to lay (e.g. bricks); to acquire (e.g. experience); to build (a reputation)
one's social position; one's place; one's standing
nth generation; nth (person to occupy a position, e.g. president)
illness; disease; bad habit; weakness; fault
unheard-of; unprecedented
to incur someone's enmity
exile; banishment; deportation
to die (of a person); to have one's life come to a close
to be rejuvenated; to feel young again
you could say; you might say; verging on the
to snarl (at each other); to growl (angrily); to quarrel; to fight; to argue
source (e.g. of a river); headwaters; origin of something continuous (language, culture, etc.)
(inferior) imitator; epigone; poor imitation; follower; adherent; person belonging to the same school (e.g. of thought)
biography of a brave fighter; heroic saga; chivalric romance; tale of one's heroism; episode of bravery; acts of violence
pillow talk; conversation in bed; bedtime story
heart-pounding; exciting; thrilling; to have one's heart pound; to be thrilled
bits and pieces; frizzily (as in perm)
to hurt; to smart; to sting
coming down from one's seat and prostrating oneself (to pay obeisance); musicians' box on the left side of the stage; lower seat
to flatter; to play up to; to fawn on; to pander to; to cater to
origin; birthplace; descent; lineage; ancestry