stylistic beauty; beauty of form; beauty derived from refined style; established trope; beloved stock formula (in entertainment); time-honored routine
certain; sure; definite; reliable; sound; solid
to cover; to hide; to conceal; to wrap; to disguise
diminutive; dwarfish; pygmy; narrow (e.g. thinking); small
terrific; staggering; tremendous; frightful; ghastly; horrific
to encourage; to cheer on; to cheer (someone) up; to raise (one's voice)
pinch; tough spot; bind; clothespin; clothes peg
(in) dire straits; (in a) serious bind; (in a) big pinch
to bare one's fangs; to snarl (at)
battle; war; fight (against time, poverty, etc.); struggle (for freedom, survival, etc.); contest; competition
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
to receive; to get; to accept; to take (someone's words or behaviour); to interpret; to understand
co-education; mixed education
rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
to write; to compose; to pen; to draw; to paint
complaint; grumbling; objection; phrase; words; expression
to follow; to come along (with); to accompany; to come with (something); to follow as a result (of); to be incidental (to)
plain; frank; candid; open; direct; straightforward
confession (to a crime, wrongdoing, etc.); admission; professing one's feelings (to someone one wants to go out with); declaration of love; profession (of faith); confession (of sins)
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
having nothing to do; having time on one's hands (and not knowing what to do); being at a loose end; being bored
to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
to spring; to bound; to be stimulated; to be encouraged; to pay handsomely; to splurge
(good) result; outcome; fruits (of one's labors); product; accomplishment
compensation; equivalent value; consideration
head; hair (on one's head); mind; brains; leader; chief; top
grabbing hold; eagle grip; tight hold
crumpled; rumpled; to be annoyed; to be irritated; noisily (chewing)
to pat (e.g. a dog); to rub; to stroke; to fondle; to caress
the old days; the past; former times; the past ten years; the past decade
very; very much; greatly; considerably; highly; exceedingly
to become sexually aware; to awaken to sex; to start having interest in the opposite sex
to omit; to leave out; to overtake; to pass; to say; to speak
to ferry across (e.g. a river); to carry across; to lay across; to build across; to hand over; to hand in
guarantee; security; assurance; warranty
kindness; favor; favour; goodwill; affection; liking (for someone)
weak; frail; delicate; tender; unskilled; weak (wine)
to throw away; to cast away; to abandon; to desert; to give up; to resign
to write (e.g. a letter); to draw up (a document); to take down (e.g. notes); to have (lunch, dinner, etc.); to eat
to match (rhythm, speed, etc.); to join together; to unite; to face; to be opposite (someone); to compare; to check with