while it may be true that; just because; nevertheless; not necessarily
to work out; to think up; to devise; to manage to find (money, time, etc.); to scrape together (funds)
common-sense expectation; obvious conclusion; conventional wisdom; received opinion
prevailing view; common opinion; general consideration
about; concerning; related to; -ish
suspicion will raise bogies; once you suspect something, everything else will look suspicious; jumping at shadows
the preceding year; the previous year; last year
leading a meeting; presiding over a meeting; officiating at a ceremony; chairman; presenter; host
appearing together; co-acting; co-starring
to spit out; to eject; to dump
to thrust away; to send flying
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
to form a partnership or association; to join together; to grapple with
sly; cunning; sneaky; crafty; unfair; dishonest
pupil; disciple; adherent; follower; apprentice; young person
skirmish; brush (with the enemy); small fight with a military enemy; squabble; quarrel; brief argument
fury; frenzy; madness; wildness
to buy a replacement; to replace by buying something new
to plan; to attempt; to plot; to conspire; to aim for; to strive for
age range; age-group; age bracket
here and there; in twos and threes; sporadically; now and then; from time to time; occasionally
middle and high-school students
main force; chief object; mainline
absorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)
lukewarm; tepid; disagreeably warm (e.g. bath)
make-up; makeup; cosmetics
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am; older girl
brat; kid; urchin; preta; hungry ghost
jostling; being jostled; being mobbed; crumpling
being absorbed in; losing oneself in; losing control of oneself
opening to the public; making available to the public; putting on display; exhibiting; showing (play, movie, etc.); holding (interview, etc.)
aspiration; volunteering; desire; application