friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
feeling uneasy; very worried; very anxious; on tenterhooks; on pins and needles
same row; same line; same file; same rank; same level; same category
to line up; to set up; to enumerate; to itemize; to be equal (to); to compare well (with)
to confuse (someone); to befuddle; to bewilder; to mystify; to throw up a smokescreen; (lit.) to surround with smoke
newsworthiness; news hook; topicality; popularity (of a topic, issue, etc.)
important task; important role; major part (in a film, play, etc.); leading role; high-scoring combination
to carry on one's back; to be burdened with; to take responsibility for; to have (something) in the background; to be in front (of something); to be conceited
continually; continuously; incessantly; without interruption
to shout (in anger); to yell
blameless; above reproach; beyond reproach; faultless; perfect
to step on; to tread on; to set foot on (e.g. foreign soil); to stand on; to experience; to undergo; to follow (rules, principles, etc.)
it is assuredly (that)...; can say with confidence that it is...
withdrawal; retraction; revocation; repeal
establishment; settlement
to reconsider; to rethink; to reassess
application (of ointment, etc.)
plan; scheme; plot; design; project; intention
support; backing; patronage
unaware; unmindful; unconscious; blind; apathetic
special; particular; extraordinary; exceptional; especial
absolutely normal; perfectly commonplace; taken for granted
bargaining; haggling; tactics; strategy
to guess; to sense; to presume; to sympathize with; to sympathise with
too much for one to handle; beyond one's capacity; unmanageable; uncontrollable; incorrigible; obstreperous
egoistic; selfish; self-willed
tongue; tongue-like object; clapper (of a bell); talon (of a lock)
to lead someone around by the nose
to trouble; to bother; to annoy
to feel anxious; to feel nervous; fluttering down; trickling down (e.g. tears); hanging untidily (of hair); straggling
for a short while; for a while; for some time; for the time being
to get impatient; to become irritated; to fret; to chafe
to make war (on); to wage war (against); to compete (against); to struggle (against adversities, etc.); to fight
finally; at last; ultimately; in the end
to be unable to bear (something) any longer; to be unable to put up with (something) any longer
straight (ahead); direct; upright; straightforward; honest; frank