by choice; of one's own free will; on one's own initiative; off one's own bat
reckless; thoughtless; rash; ill-advised; impulsive; mad (e.g. scheme)
back country; remote countryside
coffee shop that does not serve alcohol
palpitation (of the heart); pounding; throbbing; thumping
toes; tips of the toes; toe of a shoe, sock, etc.
course (of events); development; progress; market order; order without limit
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
extravagant; absurd; unbelievable; enormous; tremendous; extraordinary
parched; dried-up; empty; hollow; rattling; clattering
to dry up completely; to become stale
confession; acknowledgement; acknowledgment
grumbling; muttering; nonsense
to shrivel (e.g. cut vegetables, skin); to wilt; to fade; to wither; to be wizened
to be worm-eaten; to be eaten by worms; to affect adversely; to spoil; to ruin
nature; property; disposition
to pass from one's lips; to escape one's lips
originator; ringleader; perpetrator; main culprit; person responsible
betrayer; traitor; turncoat; informer
how dare ...; how could ...
to deceive; to delude; to trick; to be as ... as ... (e.g. "as bright as day", "as beautiful as a rose")
looking on; remaining a spectator
pointing out; identification
foreshadowing; preparation; precautionary measures
impure; adulterated; foul; mixed; dishonest
to draw in; to take in; to retract; to withdraw; to take back (e.g. words)
to draw near; to draw closer; to press (e.g. for an answer); to hound
to concede one is entirely in the wrong (for the sake of argument)
valuable; worthwhile; worthy; worth doing
wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting)
to penetrate; to sink in; to devote oneself (to); to do intently and exclusively; to do throughout (e.g. the night)
to touch; to come in contact with; to receive (e.g. visitor); to attend to; to receive (news); to get; to encounter
gallery; corridor; art gallery; upper gallery (in a theatre); spectators (esp. at a golf tournament)
to sit on the edge of one's seat; to be in breathless suspense
sense of urgency; feeling of high tension
to disappear; to vanish; to go; to leave; to die
feeling of disappointment; sense of dismay
to check; to stop; to keep back
device; instrument; vessel; container; ability; capacity
carving knife; butcher's knife; cleaver; meat chopper