merits and demerits; good points and bad points; strengths and weaknesses
to crown; to cap; to prefix with; to start with; to begin with
talk; conversation; dialogue
to weave together; to interweave; to intermingle
harmless and inoffensive; bland; tepid
doing (with resolve); carrying out (e.g. a plan)
connivance; tacit consent; toleration; acquiescence
sweet-tasting; sweet; fragrant (smelling); sweet (music); lightly salted; light in salt; naive
disclosure; exposure; revelation
suddenly; all of a sudden; abruptly
stroke of the brush; touch; literary style
switching over to; migration; transition
report; notification; tip; message (in information and communication theory)
to get; to secure; to learn; to master; to complete
fair; just and upright; open and honest; aboveboard; honourable
scheme; tactic; stratagem; trick
what is called; what they call; so-called
to build up; to establish; to form; to become (a state); to accomplish; to achieve; to change into
to sever; to cut off; to suppress; to eradicate; to abstain (from); to give up
untiringly; persistently; without losing interest
first time; first; initial
bottomless; endlessly deep; infinite
to carry to extremes; to go to the end of something; to investigate thoroughly; to master
to summon; to get used to call
to throw down; to throw out; to abandon; to resign; to give freely; to give generously
embarrassing; embarrassed; ashamed; disgraceful; shameful
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it
a wonder lasts but nine days; (lit.) gossip lasts just 75 days
to struggle; to writhe; to wriggle; to act frantically; to make desperate efforts
to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs); to flounder; to struggle (to escape an adverse situation); to strive
watchful waiting; careful supervision
application; entry; request; subscription; offer; proposal
persistence; single-mindedness
to give off (a smell, scent, aroma); to smell of; to perfume (a room, etc.); to hint at; to suggest; to insinuate
to prepare oneself for the worst; to strengthen one's resolve; to accept one's fate; to prepare oneself
right in front; just opposite; under the nose
haughty; arrogant; supercilious
soon; before long; shortly thereafter
endorsement; proof; note on back of the scroll