astringent; bitter; austere; elegant (and unobtrusive); sour (look); glum
threat; menace; coercion; terrorism
to get worse; to deteriorate; to go from bad to worse; to spoil (of food); to go bad; to perish
threat; bird-scaring device (scarecrow, gun, etc.)
immediate (effect, result, etc.); instant; instantaneous; prompt
succession; continuation; series; sequence
to receive; to take; to get somebody to do something; to have in one's pocket (a fight, match); to contract (a disease); to catch
then; and then; and; if so; because then; if that's the case
he; she; that person; that; that one; that thing
to invite; to ask (someone to do); to tempt; to lure; to induce (tears, laughter, sleepiness, etc.); to arouse (e.g. sympathy)
ringleader; mastermind; leader (of a plot)
to get information out of a person; to begin listening
to threaten; to intimidate
to have the personal support of (an influential person); to be under the patronage of
several people; a few people
manager; controller; chief treasurer; boss (of a gambling den)
assumption; supposition; hypothesis
stern expression; severe expression; grim expression
fragment; broken piece; splinter; chip; shard
to kick away; to kick off; to kick hard; to refuse curtly; to reject outright
by all rights; properly speaking; legally speaking
misdeed; wrongdoing; wickedness
eggplant (Solanum melongena); aubergine
behavior; behaviour; conduct; entertainment; treat; feast
calculation; reckoning; count; forecast
crafty; vicious; unscrupulous; sharp
to be prominent; to be conspicuous
to raise; to lift; to boost; to enhance
way (of doing); manner; method; means
retaliation; revenge; reprisal; retorsion; retortion
deterrence; ability to deter (an attack, etc.)
no matter how you put it; whatever the circumstances may be; say what you like; no matter how you look at it
secret medicine; secret remedy; nostrum; wonder drug; excellent remedy
scoundrel; rascal; villain
with hesitation; haltingly; falteringly; reluctantly
moment to quit; way to quit