pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
early on; earlier on; from early
to be visible to; to be seen by; to meet one's eyes
congestion; crush; crowding; confusion; disorder
to be crowded; to be packed; to be jammed
step; stride; counter for steps
to find out; to dig up; to sniff out; to worm out; to pry out; to spy out
gray zone; grey zone; gray area
demotion; relegation; reduction in rank; degradation; downward move
salary reduction; salary cut
slight; little; insignificant
great; grand; extensive; large-scale
collar; lapel; neckband; nape of the neck; scruff of the neck
to shine; to glow; to look attractive; to look nice; to be set off (by)
inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; test; check; scan (e.g. MRI, PET); audit
spirit; psyche; god; deity; divinity
lovely; dear; beloved; pitiable; pitiful
encouragement; cheering on
weeping; sobbing; softly (crying); with a prolonged dull pain; having a griping pain
scandal; impropriety; misconduct
to probe; to search; to sound out; to investigate
to exterminate; to eradicate; to wipe out; to let (fire) go out; to let die (e.g. flowers); to run out of
to be anxious (about); to be concerned (about); to think out (e.g. a plan); to work out; to investigate
not quite (right); not very good; somewhat (lacking)
to smack one's lips (over a dish); to eat with relish
completely black; black from top to bottom; black from head to toe
battle formation; military formation
to come near (to); to approach; to be on the verge of; to be about to reach (a stage, period, etc.); to overhang; to hang over
to be petrified; to be unable to move; to be paralyzed (with horror); to be stupefied (with amazement)
to flap (wings); to spread one's wings; to go out into the world
to rise high (of water); to overflow; to swell; to be filled with (emotion, energy, etc.); to be bursting with; to be brimming with
boiling; seething; becoming heated (e.g. of a debate); excitement; soaring (of prices); shooting up
to become completely chilled
to give oneself to (esp. of a woman to a man); to surrender oneself to
unforgivable; inexcusable; unpardonable
to snatch (and run); to carry off; to swipe; to scoop up (and remove; sand, earth, etc.)
frantic dash; rushing at full speed
kidnapper; kidnaper; abductor
scornful laughter; ridicule; derision; sneer
being amazed; being horrified; being taken aback
to shorten; to narrow; to close; to shrink
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic