to lessen; to decrease; to diminish
(providing) covering fire; supporting (someone in a debate, dispute, etc.); backing (someone) up
to be outdone (by); to be in inferior (to); to compare unfavorably (with); to be behind
taking into consideration; making allowances (for); reserve; restraint; leniency
rough; careless; slovenly; slipshod; rude; impolite
a little; a bit; somewhat; slightly; rather
to be sticky; to be adhesive; to persevere; to persist; to stick to
to add (to); to add on; to append
absurd; irrational; unreasonable; absurdity
meek; gentle; modest; praiseworthy; admirable
inundation; submersion; flood
instantly; immediately; equals; means; oneness (of two opposing things); inseparability
et cetera; etc.; and the like; the likes of; something like
to lay waste; to devastate; to invade; to break into; to troll (e.g. web forums); to spam
to strike a chord; to tug at one's heartstrings; to resonate
enthusiastic schoolteacher; passionate teacher
to go too far; to go to excess; to carry too far
casual; doing something without taking it too seriously
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair
accepted; fully-fledged; clear; respectable
to start to say; to attempt to say; to be about to say; to speak to; to address
business world; business circles; (the) industry
everybody doing well (e.g. purchaser, buyer and society); three-way satisfaction; all three parties doing well
explanation; excuse; clarification; vindication; apology
rash; thoughtless; imprudent; careless; frivolous
strict; formal; strait-laced; stuffy; prudish; serious
forbidden; prohibited; banned; taboo
to make muddy (of a liquid); to make cloudy; to make turbid; to make ambiguous; to evade (e.g. the point); to be noncommittal about
red-light district; prostitution quarter; geisha quarter
touting; soliciting; luring; tout; barker; pander
close friendship; close friend; good friend; intimate relations; sexual intercourse; sex
occupation; profession; job; vocation; career; trade
to show contempt for; to look down upon; to have a low opinion of; to cause to fall; to make decline
to bite at; to snap at; to jump at (e.g. an offer); to snap at; to hold on to; to cling to
trigger (of a gun, etc.); trigger (for something); immediate cause
subtleties; niceties; fine points; subtle; sensitive
race (of people); type of person
to entice; to tempt; to invite someone to join in
occupation; calling; livelihood
vigorously (ripping, tearing, scratching, etc.); roughly; (eating) with a crunch; stiff; starchy; (working) hard
to show signs; to have symptoms; to give indications (of); to bud; to germinate; to sprout
and yet; even so; nonetheless; for all that