straight ball (pitch); direct (e.g. question); blunt
to speak ill of; to disparage
investigation; inspection; examination; tune; note; melody
effect; result; worth; use; avail
to give advice; to counsel; to take part in a consultation
to be embarrassed; to lose face
to affect a stylish air; to try to look good; to show off
long; drawn-out; very long
to fold one's arms; to link arms with someone
things on hand; things in stock; money on hand; money in one's wallet; on hand; in stock
at the critical moment; when the time comes; when it's most important; when necessary; in an emergency; when push comes to shove
flapping (of a flag, fan, etc.); fluttering; pitter-patter (of footsteps); quickly (making progress); in quick succession
to fan; to incite; to instigate
to knead; to mix with fingers; to quibble; to argue for argument's sake
sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca); Egyptian cucumber; loofah; loofa; something useless
interrupting a game; time out
on this occasion; now; in these circumstances; with this opportunity
to speak distinctly; to speak clearly; to put it bluntly; to get to the point; to be frank
lie; falsehood; fiction; fabrication
to poke fun at; to make fun of; to send up
making a person, pet, etc. wait (before being permitted to do something); postponement; putting on hold
to be heard; to be audible; to be said to be; to be reputed
to apply (a rule); to be applicable; to come under (a category); to fulfill; to hold true
to say no more; to sink into silence
(common) cold; influenza; flu; ague; inflammatory respiratory system illness (in general)
mess; spoiled; spoilt; (come to) nothing; ruin
to wound; to injure; to hurt someone's feelings (pride, etc.); to damage; to chip
(one) matter; (one) item; (one) case
How did you like ...?; How about ...?; What's going on?; How's it going?
to have an interest (in something); to feel inclined (toward doing something)
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
we are of equal status in this regard; we are in the same boat; the same to you; the feeling is mutual
perfect; complete; flawless
basis; foundation; grounds; authority
forbidding to speak; muzzling (a person); bribing into secrecy; hush money
married woman's secret lover; paramour; adultery (by a married woman)
thinly; slightly; vaguely; a little
telling others; revealing to others; letting out a secret
ladykiller; ladies' man; murder of a woman; murderer of a woman; femicide
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
innocent; naive; artless; unsophisticated; pure; fresh
thread (on an Internet forum, mailing list, etc.); topic; conversation; post
charm; fascination; glamour; glamor; attraction; appeal
such; like that; that sort of; very