before; previously; ahead; Pardon me for leaving (before you)
jacket; book jacket; dust cover; CD jacket; record jacket
understanding completely; understanding all there is to know
grave marker; gravestone; headstone; writing on a headstone (name, date of death, etc.)
peace (esp. of the world); tranquillity; calm
to make sure of; to assure oneself of; to see with one's own eyes; to ascertain
after a short while; not long after; soon; before long; shortly thereafter
at any rate; in any event; either way; anyway
to expose to danger; to imperil; to jeopardize
hard to say; inexpressible; hesitant to say; embarrassing; delicate
severe; harsh; hard; cruel; rigorous
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
fiction; fabrication; concoction; fictitious; fictional; imaginary
adaptation; accommodation; conforming; acclimatization; acclimatisation
before one's very eyes; under one's nose; imminence; close at hand
to be suspicious of (someone's motives); to suspect (that)
poor health; ill health; unhealthy
yell (of encouragement); cheering (esp. for a school sports team)
confectionery; sweets; candy; cake
this for sure; certainly is
irritating; annoying; tedious (work, person, etc.); boring; depressing; dark (e.g. story)
hard (on the ears); offensive (to the ear); rasping; rough; harsh; grating
author; writer; novelist; artist
unnecessary trouble brought upon oneself; stirring up a hornet's nest
research material; experimental material
grace; favor; favour; blessing; benefit
to irritate one; to get on one's nerves
beforehand; in advance; previously
script; libretto; scenario
stage (theatre, theater); scene or setting (e.g. of novel, play, etc.)
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
dimness; obscurity; indistinctness; unclear; unintelligible