consideration; inquiry; enquiry; investigation; study
appearance; shape; form; atmosphere; look; feel
(outward) looks; features; face; countenance; expression
to get down to business; to cut to the chase; to get straight to the point; to move on to the main subject
to change; to exchange; to convert; to renew; to throw a switch; to replace
to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to be tough on (e.g. one's body); to treat harshly
abusive language; violent language; wild words
to write; to compose; to pen; to draw; to paint
piece (scrap, bit, strip) of paper
to incur someone's enmity
tension; mental strain; nervousness
to stiffen; to become stiff
lunch break; noon recess; noon rest period
there's no smoke without fire
chemical reaction; generation of an unexpected result from combining things
doubt; suspicion; misgivings; scruples
to give birth; to bear (child); to lay (eggs); to produce; to yield; to give rise to
innocence; guiltlessness; absence of the fact; insubstantiality; (arch.) insincerity; (arch.) dishonesty
to differ; to vary; to disagree
intention; wish; purpose; mind (to do)
artificial; unnatural; human-caused (e.g. mistake, error, disaster); man-made
deciding first; settling (a matter) first; first priority
front-facing; forward-looking; positive; constructive
making light of; thinking little of; slighting; belittling; dismissing; contempt
first of all; to begin with; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
call for attention; alert; heads-up; reminder
(following a verb) to be sure to; to do (something) so that ...; to make sure to; to try to
samurai on horseback; (medieval) knight
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding a runner on base
possessiveness; desire to monopolize (monopolise); desire for control
to perceive; to grasp (the situation)
to that extent; accordingly; that being the case; that state; that condition
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
to rise to the surface; to come to the front; to emerge (e.g. from obscurity); to stand out (e.g. against a dark background)
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
means of making contact; intermediary; go-between; connections; influence; pull
on bad terms; at loggerheads
to understand; to make out
to take measures (in face of events being anticipated); to come to an agreement (in bargaining, etc.); to strike a bargain; to clap one's hands together
offender; criminal; culprit
to feel irritated; to feel offended; to feel angry; to feel sick; to feel nauseous
mischief; prank; pastime; hobby; playing with (a lighter, etc.); fooling around with