staunch; hardcore; dyed-in-the-wool; metal reinforcement
owner; proprietor; possessor (e.g. of talent, beauty, etc.)
shudder; shiver; trembling with fear
change (of personnel); reshuffle (e.g. of a cabinet); shake-up; dismissal (e.g. of a minister); replacement
to smash; to crush; to shut down; to put out of business; to wreck; to break; to butcher
rejection; expulsion; boycott; ostracism
losing everything; coming to nothing; having lost the interest and the principal
looking coldly on; looking upon disapprovingly; frowning on
to tie; to fasten; to wear (necktie, belt); to put on; to total; to sum; to be strict with
to refuse; to reject; to inform; to give notice; to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from)
to bear a grudge against; to resent; to blame; to curse; to feel bitter towards
to be crushed; to be smashed; to become useless; to cease functioning; to go bankrupt; to go out of business
to reach; to amount to; to be up to the task; to come up to; to compare with; to be a match (for)
gap; space; break; interlude; chink (in one's armor, armour); chance
to produce; to yield; to cause; to result from; to arise; to be generated
once in a lifetime (opportunity); (a golden opportunity that may) happen only once in a thousand years
whispering; whisper; secret talk; murmur
in various ways; in all sorts of ways; at every opportunity; whenever there is a chance
unfavourably; unfavorably; disparagingly; insultingly; ill
way out; means to escape; escape route
rather; sooner; preferably
to break; to destroy; to wreck; to ruin; to break (a bill, etc.)
babysitting; babysitter; taking care of; assisting; assistant
front and rear; front and back; before and after; around; about; order; context
astonished; shocked; amazed; astounded; aghast
to forget; to fail to recognize; to fail to recognise
to brave a danger; to take a risk
impossible to do (although wants to)
to speak distinctly; to speak clearly; to put it bluntly; to get to the point; to be frank
even if; even though; however; no matter how
to yearn for; to long for; to follow (someone); to idolize (for virtue, learning, status, etc.)
to come to like; to become fond of; to fall in love
to; for; from the standpoint of; as far as ... is concerned
courage; bravery; valour; valor; nerve; boldness
to expose to danger; to imperil; to jeopardize
load; heavy burden; encumbrance; heavy freight; heavy responsibility
to forget completely; to leave behind
help; rescue; salvation; solace; (religious) salvation; (Christian) grace
not only ... but (also); as well as ...
the point of ...; the place where ...; a place called ...; places known as ...; I would say ...; ... is how I'd put it