better safe than sorry; one should err on the side of caution
everything; anything; nothing
before; previously; ahead; Pardon me for leaving (before you)
odious; hateful; detestable; (speaking ironically) darling
to rain incessantly; to downpour
curious; strange; unusual
standard; set; routine; decided
to criticize harshly; to blame; to accuse; to urge; to press
to advance on; to close in; to march on; to descend on (the enemy); to move towards; to surge forward (crowd, wave of nostalgia, wave, etc.)
to care for someone; to look after someone
woven mat (esp. one made of straw); (arch.) seat
by all means; by all costs
scuttling (to escape in a panic, in shame, etc.); scurrying; scrambling
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
postbox; mailbox; pillar box
to introduce; to compare; to check; to adjust; to pull into place
point in common; common term; common trait; common denominator
obstacle; impediment; hindrance; handicap; impairment; disability
centre of attention; center of attention
nothing more ... than this; as ... as it could possibly be
pitiful; unfortunate; poor; unpardonable; regrettable
consent; assent; understanding; agreement; comprehension; grasp
day after day; day by day
transient (symptom, phenomenon); temporary; passing; fleeting
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
to be twisted; to be wrapped; to be distorted
to collude (with); to conspire (with); to make friends with; to get along well with; to become intimate (with opposite sex); to establish a secret liaison (with)
hug; carrying in one's arms (a baby, pet, doll, etc.)
handmade; homegrown; hand-crafted; homemade
here and there; in twos and threes; sporadically; now and then; from time to time; occasionally
limp; imbalance; unfavorable progress; unfavourable progress