guest of honour; guest of honor; privileged guest; visitor
absorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)
the place one comes from; one's birthplace; one's hometown
the past; bygone days; one's past (that one would prefer remained secret); past (tense); preterit; previous life
to come out; to appear; to turn up; to emerge
back country; remote countryside
errand; mission; messenger; bearer; familiar spirit; use
government office; agency; board
(personal) background check
on one occasion; once; at one point; at one time
to take the time (to do); to set aside time (for)
venting one's anger (on someone or something); taking out one's anger on
to go to see (something, someone); to visit
to whine; to make feeble complaints
to sell well; to sell out; to be worldly and understanding; to be sensible; to be sorted out; to be put in order
the number of people; many people; a large number of people; (counted as an) adult
establishment; creation; posing (a problem); options setting; preference settings; configuration
to make an appointment; to make a reservation
lie; falsehood; fiction; fabrication
anyhow; anyway; somehow or other; apart from ...; setting ... aside
what with this and that; for a number of reasons
enjoyment; pleasure; diversion; anticipation; looking forward to
to begin to open; to come out; to smile broadly; to come apart at the seams (clothes)
via; through; by doing; by means of; using
when it becomes; when it comes to
cool; refreshing; clear (e.g. eyes); bright; clear; distinct
just right (time, size, length, etc.)
preface; introduction; preamble
consequence; outcome; result; blame
to have heard somewhere; to sound familiar
to cock one's head in puzzlement; to tilt one's head in contemplation; to wrack one's brain; to think hard
to be intimate with; to befriend
book; volume; this; present; main; head
collection of short stories; collected short stories
compilation (of a text); editing; volume (of a text); completed literary work
to be placed on; to be set on; to be piled on; to appear (in print); to be mentioned; to be recorded
protagonist; main character; hero(ine) (of a story); head of household
trouble; hardship; difficulty; anxiety; worry; concern