shadow; silhouette; reflection; image; ominous sign; light (stars, moon)
(a) step ahead; (a) jump ahead
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that
during imprisonment; while in jail
to flip-flop; to do an about-face; (lit.) to flip over one's hand; to do something easy
mere shadow of one's former self; having no trace left (of former glories, talent, looks, etc.); unrecognizable (as the person one used to be); unrecognisable
three times; thrice; third (musical interval); many times; over and over again
sweetness; sugary taste; sweets; dessert; charm; appeal
cut end; edge (of a page, etc.); small amount; small quantity; beginning; clue
to grow senile; to be childish with age; to be mentally slow; to be befuddled; to play stupid; to say something stupid (oft. on purpose; esp. as part of a comedic routine)
to cheer up; to liven up; to become active; to look better; to improve (in appearance); to stand out
recommendation; referral; endorsement
to muster (e.g. one's courage); to call forth; to rouse up; to be enlivened; to be invigorated
outline; summary; gist; roughly; about; nearly
breakup (of a ceremony, wedding, party, meeting, etc.); closure
to meet; to meet up; to rendezvous; to join (of roads, rivers, etc.); to flow together
to volunteer; to undertake a challenge
one's relationships; people one knows; circle of friends
to surprise; to frighten; to create a stir
to feel that something is true or actually happening; to hit one (realization, thought); to sink in
rise (e.g. of a movement); emergence; rearing one's head; gaining prominence; coming to the fore; gaining power
European Community; EC; e-commerce; electronic commerce; emergency contraception; engineering constructor
to boast; to brag; to recite (a song or poem to oneself); to bark; to roar
first of all; in the first place; to begin with; for starters
congress; parliament; diet; legislative assembly
wealthy; rich; affluent; well-off
advanced (developed) country; advanced nations
ranking equal with; comparing favourably with; comparing favorably with
timidly; nervously; with nervous diffidence; trembling with fear
after many twists and turns; after much trouble
ring; circle; hoop; wheel; circle (e.g. of friends)
hard-fought win; winning through perseverance
random; by chance; haphazard; hit-or-miss; unplanned
reflection; reconsideration; introspection; regret; repentance; remorse
steady; sound; reliable; solid
consideration; guess; conjecture; judgment; judgement
to give oneself to (esp. of a woman to a man); to surrender oneself to
contention; competition; rivalry; quarrel
sentence structure; grammatical construction