taking advantage of (an opportunity); jumping on the bandwagon; taking passage (in); getting a lift; getting a ride
to become clouded; to darken; to darken (of a face); to worsen; to deteriorate
bubble on the surface of water; (coming to) nothing; naught; something short-lived
total fire ban; no source of ignition permitted; no open flame; flammables!
to mix (e.g. water with flour); to dissolve (salt in water, paint, etc.); to scramble (eggs); to stir; to melt; to liquefy
starch glue; starch paste
sales message; sales copy
seizure; attachment; foreclosure
to stop (moving); to come to a stop; to stop (doing, working, being supplied); to come to a halt; to alight; to perch on
so what?; what of it?; and?; why do you ask?
pass (e.g. backstage pass)
if you like; if you prefer; if it suits you; if it's fine with you; if you don't mind; if necessary
there is no need to; it is fine if you don't; unnecessary; does not match; out of reach of
to mediate; to intervene; to smooth
one's increasing age; approaching old age; aging steadily
thickly painted; thickly lacquered; impasto
stingy; cheap; very frugal
shrill voice; piercing cry; shriek; scream
written order; order form
invoice; consignment note; sender's copy; receipt of shipment
broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
to send word (to); to write (to); to hand over (one's business to a successor); to transfer; to tell (one's successor) about
to use someone's (argument, attack) against them; to use (an attack) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a negative situation)
business; things to do; engagement; errand; affairs
to be quick-witted; to be quick-thinking
father; dad; husband; you (of an elderly person older than the speaker); he
to fall into another's hands
to carve; to engrave; to sculpt; to tattoo
sunset; sundown; end; close; year-end; end of the year
adaptability; ability to apply knowledge to new situations; practical skills
gatekeeper; door guard; doorman; concierge; janitor
simple honesty; tactless frankness
by the rules; in accordance with the regulations
sign of life; human presence; humanity; humaneness
acrobatic barrel-rolling (performed using the feet while lying on the back); handing something around (within a fixed group of people in a pre-arranged order); handing off a problem to someone else (in order to evade responsibility)
dealing with (people, customers, complaints, etc.); receiving (callers, visitors, etc.); attending to; handling; serving
sense of urgency; feeling of high tension
to be precocious; to be mature for one's age; to seem grown-up; to seem mature