otherwise; if not; or else
to sit down hard; to sink down to the floor
immersing oneself in; being absorbed in; devoting oneself to; giving oneself up entirely to
to deceive; to falsify; to dodge; to beg the question (issue, difficulties); to varnish over; to gloss over
all; wholly; entirely; completely; without exception
to get cold feet; to back away; to withdraw
to understand (each other); to comprehend
until something reaches the very limit; until the very last minute; up to the breaking point
for better or worse; luckily or unluckily
to assemble (in a hall); to meet together (in a room)
unrefined (character, manners); mean; vulgar; bad taste; lacking style
harsh (criticism, treatment, etc.); severe; hard; strict
to knit one's brows (in discomfort, unease, disapproval, etc.); to raise one's eyebrows; to frown; to scowl
with that; on that note; altogether; ending at that point; cut off there
recoil; hesitation; flinching; shrinking back
to meet someone's requirements; to meet expectations; to go along with what somebody wants
serpent (snake) and scorpion; detestation
not necessarily so; is not always true
dining room; dining hall; cafeteria; restaurant; eatery; snack bar
to flatter; to soft-soap; to sweet talk; to cajole; to instigate
mockery by means of excessive praise; damning with lavish praise; backhanded compliment
to half-rise to one's feet
to have tears in one's eyes; to be close to crying
to fight against; to oppose; to face
whispering into a person's ear
clamour; clamor; uproar; tumult; furore; furor
to make one's rounds; to patrol
striking (at something) and missing; swing and a miss; vain attempt
deadlock; stalemate; impasse; dead end
early morning; early hours; early in the morning
a matter for speculation; only conjecture; just guesswork
not yet known; unknown; strange
organization; organisation; structure; construction; system (e.g. railroad, transport, party, etc.); tissue; texture (of a rock)
personal feelings; self-interest
companion; fellow; group; company; member of the same category (family, class)