difficult to ...; hard to ...
to connect; to tie; to fasten; to transfer (phone call)
to coo at; to behave like a spoiled child; to snort; to sniff
special; particular; extraordinary; exceptional; especial
to reach one's ears; to come to one's knowledge; to hear about; to learn of (by chance)
taking a long time; slowness; sluggishness; lack of firmness; looseness; slovenliness
carefree; optimistic; careless; reckless; heedless; happy-go-lucky
to talk; to chat; to chatter
deserted (esp. store, market, town, streets); quiet; inactive (business, trade, etc.); slack; idle; free
from the standpoint of; as a matter of (e.g. fact); aboard (a ship or vehicle); on top of; first volume (e.g. book); superior quality; best
somehow; somewhat; seemingly
willingness (e.g. to do something); eagerness; motivation; inspiration; determination; high aspirations
does not seem; unlikely; improbable
question; inquiry; enquiry
wife; your wife; his wife; married lady; madam
start; origin; beginnings
moderate; proper; just right
to be effective; to take effect; to work; to function well; to be possible (to do, use, etc.); to be able to
to be added to; to be appended; to join in (e.g. a group of friends); to participate; to increase (e.g. heat); to gain in (e.g. influence)
work; labor; achievement; performance; salary; income
properly; accurately; exactly; neatly; tidily; orderly
elucidation; explication; explaining; unravelling; clarification; understanding
hard to say; inexpressible; hesitant to say; embarrassing; delicate
to begin; to start; to happen (again); to begin (anew); to date (from); to originate (in)
limply; wearily; listlessly; languidly; exhaustedly; unenergetically
to incline; to lean; to devote oneself to; to concentrate on; to ruin; to squander
peers; friends; fellow workers; comrades
to exchange glances; to look at each other; to postpone; to put off; to contrast; to compare
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do
to work; to labor; to function; to operate; to commit (e.g. a crime); to perpetrate
to put an end to something; to get something over with; to quit something one has been engaged in too long or to an excessive degree
to learn; to acquire knowledge; to carry; to wear (clothes, etc.); to put on
that kind of; of the sort; of the kind; such
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
to often be the case; to occur frequently; to be common; to be popular
knowing; (an) acquaintance
I wonder; do you think?; I might; some kind; some stage; somehow
to be needed; to be wanted
appropriate; suitable; proper; fitting