sound of thin metal or plastic surface caving in and springing back; action of quickly bowing or lowering one's head; (with a) bob of the head
thin veneer; hasty preparation; knowledge or skill learned as a stopgap; re-tempering a dull sword (so that it looks as if it's sharp, but is actually unusable)
technology; engineering; technique; skill; art; craft
several times; several degrees
skillful; skilled; proficient; flattery
(you're) dirty!; (you have) cooties!
dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; (far) better; exceptional
progress; advance; improvement; development
poor; pitiful; piteous; pitiable
growth; development; one's early life; upbringing; personal history
even if ...; even supposing that ...; also as ...; also for ...; also from the position of ...
chitter; chatter; giggle; screeching; squealing
scrutiny; scanning; taking a good look
observation; survey; watching
older brother and younger sister
to descend (e.g. a mountain); to go down; to alight (e.g. from bus); to get off; to step down; to retire; to be granted
school building; schoolhouse
to urge; to encourage; to press; to stimulate (e.g. growth); to hasten (e.g. development); to quicken
older brother; elder brother; young man; buddy; fella
to be possible to say; to be able to say; (arch.) said; (arch.) have said
to shine; to glitter; to sparkle
to dash over oneself (e.g. water); to take (e.g. shower); to bask in (e.g. the sun); to suffer (e.g. an attack); to draw (e.g. criticism, attention, praise); to have heaped upon
dubious tale; cock-and-bull story; questionable information; taking care not to be fooled
fishy; dubious; questionable; false-looking
to smile cheerfully; to crack a smile
digestion (of food); digestion (of information); assimilation; consumption; absorption; (arch.) losing one's form and turning into something else
organ (of body, plant, etc.)
juice; soft drink (usu. fruit-based); sweetened drink
here and there; all around; everywhere; to get things in the wrong order (back to front); to become muddled up
eating house; restaurant that serves simple food
this area; around here; this point; this much; this extent
enjoyment; pleasure; diversion; anticipation; looking forward to
to hold between (e.g. one's fingers, chopsticks); to grip (from both sides); to put between; to sandwich between; to catch (e.g. a finger in a door); to trap; to insert (e.g. a break into proceedings)
too; also; still; as before; even so; either way
overly serious; serious to a fault; humorless
just kidding; not!; ersatz; imitation; phony
to be dampened (of the mood, interest, etc.); to be spoiled (e.g. of the atmosphere); to become subdued; to turn white; to fade (to white); to grow light (at dawn)
suddenly; all of a sudden
far away in the distance; in the far distance
to blow off (strongly); to blow away; to drive away (e.g. one's worries); to dispel; to do at great speed (e.g. drive a car); to carry out (a task) very quickly