few decades; many decades; several decades
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
to work (for); to be employed (at); to serve (as); to act (as); to conduct a religious service
that is so; that is right; it looks to me; people say that; it is said that; I hear that
to serve; to work for; to attend
together; jointly; at the same time; with; both
old family; old-established family; one's old home; one's childhood home
(together) with; -wide; including
health problem; health issue
to make noise; to make racket; to rustle; to swoosh; to make merry; to clamor; to clamour
(private) secretary; treasured book; secret book
surface; face (i.e. the visible side of an object); front (of a building, etc.); obverse side (i.e. "head") of a coin; outside; exterior; appearance
illness (usu. excluding minor ailments, e.g. common cold); disease; bad habit; bad behaviour; crazy; insane
to climb over; to get over; to surmount; to overcome; to surpass; to overtake
to digest; to break down; to break to pieces; to be able to use; to be good at; to finish; to complete
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
hospital; clinic; doctor's office; doctor's surgery; infirmary
going in and out; entering and exiting; visiting regularly; frequenting; income and expenditure; incomings and outgoings; increase and decrease
to get better; to get well; to recover (from an illness); to be cured; to be restored; to heal
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; difficulty
fixed period; fixed term; regular; periodic; fixed-term commuter pass; fixed-term deposit
diagnosis; medical examination
kind; sort; type; similar example; parallel; the like
frequency (of occurrence)
only recently; just of late
intensification; aggravation
real image; real form; real-life image; true picture
to break off; to come to an end; to be interrupted; to be cut short; to pause
incomplete understanding; doubt; question; distrust; suspicion; strangeness
to take home; to carry home; to bring back home; to take out (e.g. food)
small fraction; small proportion
force; unit; corps; squad; troops; party
to interfere (with); to hinder; to be hindered (from doing); to become impeded; to have difficulty; to suffer inconvenience
to say in other words; to put another way; to express in different words; to reword; to rephrase
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
in one's own way or style
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); still; all the same; even ... (e.g. "even a genius")
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest