as affairs stand; judging from the present situation; as things are now
depending on the answer; hinging on the reply
to play dumb; to feign ignorance; to act as innocent
angry voice; one's voice when shouting with anger
large part; greater part; people in general; general public; mostly; for the most part
disgust; hate; repugnance; loathing
feelings; emotion; compassion; sympathy; passion; affection
innocence; guiltlessness; purity; uprightness; integrity
leisurely; slow; deliberate; easygoing
slip; omission; upshot; denouement; punch line (of a joke)
clan; partisans; participation (e.g. in a plot); one flavour; one charm; one ingredient (in traditional Chinese medicine)
guarantee; security; assurance; pledge; warranty
rudely (barging in); straight; directly; without hesitation; without permission
personality; character; personal appearance; gentility
head-on; to one's face; squarely; directly; flatly (e.g. refuse)
personage; person (deserving of respect)
to interrupt; to interfere; to meddle; to intrude; to butt in; to poke one's nose into
strict (e.g. security); heavy (e.g. guard); showy; pretentious; impressive; imposing
of tender years; very young
row; line; company (of someone); group; sequence; counter for rows
tall figure; high stature
to step forward; to volunteer
to prune; to trim; to reap (a crop) and put into storage; to harvest; to prune (a manuscript); to cut down
in a way that is uncharacteristic of ...; in a way that is unbecoming to ...; in a way that is unbefitting of ...; despite one's position as ...; despite being ...
glad countenance; joyful look
laconic; of few words; reticent; quiet
weird; strange; mysterious
correction; revision; amendment
to exert oneself and win; to gain (victory)
innocence; being not guilty
followers; subordinates; being under someone's command
clatter; clank; rattling; capsule toy vending machine
to rub; to chafe; to wear out; to become worn; to lose one's innocence; to become sly
to insert; to put between; to tuck (e.g. fabric into a gap)
to accept one's inferiority; to take one's hat off to someone; to give up; to surrender; to strike one's colors
what; what sort of thing; everything; anything; what (on earth)?; what's the meaning of this ...?
spurt of blood (from one's victim)