to shrink; to contract; to diminish (in size)
to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
malicious; ill-tempered; unkind
whereabouts; place; location; place where one belongs; where one fits in; place where one can be oneself
to determine (esp. a culprit or underlying cause); to pin down; to ascertain; (arch.) to stab to death
coward; namby-pamby; wimp; weak-kneed person; spineless person
practice; practising; exercises; manoeuvres; seminar (student debates, presentations, etc.); practicum
ominous; sinister; unlucky; inauspicious
to lose focus; to let one's mind wander; to relax one's attention
jinx; omen (can be a good omen)
copy; photocopy; blurb on a book jacket; catch copy
patching (up); cutting a part and pasting a new one (e.g. a shoji door); cut and paste
summary; digest; outline; abstract
to exert oneself; to devote oneself to
waiting room; anteroom; antechamber; green room
to open one's heart; to throw off reserve; to be frank
point (of a story, argument, etc.); point (e.g. in stock exchange movement); percentage point; switch; points; point; site
covering; filled in; complete; total; cliched; clichéd; plaintext
close (e.g. friend); familiar; familiar (e.g. story); well-known (to one); close (relatives); closely related
use; utilization; utilisation; application
cruelty; hard-heartedness
regrettable; disappointing; precious; dear; too good for; deserving better
at first; in the beginning; originally
to have an interest (in something); to feel inclined (toward doing something)
before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
winning over; placation; gentle persuasion
to be satisfied (with an explanation, apology, etc.); to be happy
as always; as ever; though it's always the case
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict
to wedge one's way in; to push in (between); to step in (between); to interrupt (a conversation, quarrel, etc.); to intervene
it cannot be that...; it is highly unlikely that...; it is impossible that...
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
side (esp. of a waterbody); edge; bank; shore
dull sound; muffled sound
to become sodden; to swell up; to become lazy
to inhale; to breathe in; to suck up; to absorb; to soak up
clearly; distinctly; vividly