shaving; planing; cutting; shavings; flakes
point; gist; essentials; knack; trick; the ropes
go on!; right!; here goes!
to start with the looks; to get the trappings right as the first step; to start (at the wrong end) by focusing on the superficial
self-proclaimed; self-professed; professing oneself to be; calling oneself; first person
painter; artist; painter supported by patron
carelessly (throwing, tossing, etc.); nonchalantly; casually
to nod; to bow one's head in assent; to agree
three (long cylindrical things); three-of-a-kind (in a dealt hand)
to shave (wood, leather, etc.); to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.); to curtail; to delete; to erase
absolute beginner; complete amateur
to use properly; to use (different things) for different purposes
to look forward to something
amusement; fun; brief entertainment
salty sea breeze; salt wind
tedium; boredom; dullness; to feel bored; to get bored with; to get tired of
glossy (e.g. hair); sleek; shiny; lustrous
to persuade; to coax; to solicit; to seduce; to make advances; to make a play
how many years; how long; what year
beauty; good figure; (beautiful) appearance; beautification; beauty treatment; beauty culture
suddenly (rising to fame, etc.); instantly; immediately; one bound; one leap
individual; distinctive; unique; characteristic; personal; idiosyncratic
tempting thing; (too much of a) temptation; something that shouldn't be seen; thing damaging to the eyes
to forget oneself; to lose control of oneself
see-through (e.g. blouse)
destructive power; destructive energy; destructive force
giving (someone) a peek (of skin, underwear, etc.); giving a glimpse
full view; plain sight; completely visible
being done for; giving up; being in a hopeless situation; not knowing what to do; being brought to one's knees; (lit.) throwing up (one's) hands
meeting face-to-face; seeing in person; facing (each other); opposing (traffic, etc.); confronting
to allow (someone or something) to come near; to let get close
plentiful; abundant; definitely extant
surely; certainly; without doubt
monopoly; monopolization; exclusivity; hogging; keeping to oneself
hold; catch; connection; relationship; unease; discomfort
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
characteristic (of); peculiar (to)
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it
lump; mass; group; crowd; embodiment (of an idea, quality, feeling etc.); personification