before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
demand note; dunning letter (note)
to be taken aback; to be astonished; to be dumbfounded
to bite into; to sink one's teeth into; to stick to; to cling to; to hold on to
in the belly; in one's heart of hearts
munching; crunching; scratching (an itch)
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
to fish; to look for; to search for; to go on a spree (spending, reading, etc.); to binge
one meal; one meal (a day)
matter of life or death; life-and-death problem
thin; skinny; delicate; fragile; feeble
skip it; drop it; I've had enough (e.g. when offered something); that's enough
tedious talk; impertinent talk; repetitious talk; saucy speech; pretentious statement
to go round and cut in; to take a roundabout path
eagle (Accipitridae family)
to get angry; to become perverse
to be to the point; to hit the mark; to be relevant
judgment; judgement; discernment
memory; ability to remember
to prepare oneself (for the worst); to resolve oneself
dull (e.g. a knife); blunt; thickheaded; obtuse; dull (sound, color, etc.); dim (light)
lifeboat; friend in need; helping hand; timely help
young child; toddler; child over 1 but not yet of school age
to screw; to twist; to distort; to parody; to torture; to wrest
unfavourably; unfavorably; disparagingly; insultingly; ill
confident; assured; self-assured; bullish (e.g. market)
to grumble; to be unsettled; to grizzle
mockery; derision; ridicule
to hurl abuse (at); to use abusive language
no matter what it takes; by any means necessary; at all costs; by hook or by crook
rest; recess; vacation; holiday; dormancy (of a silkworm prior to moulting)
consent; approval; acceptance; agreement; compliance
half; semi-; half-past; odd number; (arch.) unit of land area (595.8 m^2)
exile; banishment; deportation
to soothe and humor (humour); to coax
for better or worse; luckily or unluckily
poor (living); barely continuing; just scraping along; very narrow
one's own handwriting; autograph; holograph
link (e.g. in a chain of events); part (of a plan, campaign, activities, etc.); monocyclic
rendezvous; meeting; area where guests gather before the start of a tea ceremony; waiting room; (arch.) meeting place for assignations, drinking, etc.