before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
boy raised by wolves; boy who cried wolf
cash; ready money; money on hand; mercenary; self-interested; calculating
bombshell announcement; bombshell statement
context (of a passage); line of thought; context (of a matter, event, etc.); circumstances; background
less prominent one of a pair; less famous member (esp. of a comedy duo or group); (the one who is) not ...; the non-... one (of a pair)
trickling (of water); flickering (of fire); darting about (e.g. a small animal); scampering about
elegant; graceful; refined; leisurely; comfortable; easy
starring (in a film, play, etc.); playing the leading part
riddled with holes; full of holes; full of flaws; full of loopholes; faulty
to knead; to mix with fingers; to quibble; to argue for argument's sake
(breaking) with a snap (of a thread, string, etc.); (ending) suddenly (of a call, communications, etc.); piercing (e.g. with a needle); squashing (something small; e.g. an insect); breaking out (e.g. of a pimple)
deep voice; rich voice; full voice
police; police officer; police station; self-appointed enforcer (of a rule, standard, etc.); busybody
to protrude; to stick out; to be forced out; to be pushed out; to go over (e.g. a budget); to go beyond
(personal) appearance; (personal) grooming; essential skill; required knowledge
every corner; every nook and cranny; all the ins and outs
to worry (about); to fuss (over); to be careful (about); to pay attention (to); to take (good) care of
thoughtless; reckless; rash; excessive; unreasonable; immoderate
health; healthy; sound; fit
justice; fairness; impartiality
strict; rigid; exact; fair; impartial
grandfather; male senior-citizen; old man
to be greatly obliged; to be very sorry
mixing of public and private affairs; mixing business with personal affairs; mixing work and private matters
principal occupation; main job; professional; an expert; I (of a government official, etc.); me
governor-general; governor; viceroy
big thanks; great gratitude
passing each other; missing (meeting) each other; failing to meet; (being at) cross purposes; discrepancy
landing; going ashore; disembarkation; making landfall (of a typhoon); striking land; hitting land
to dent; to indent; to depress; to humiliate
to be hairy (of a person); to be thickly bearded; to be dense (of vegetation); to be thick; to be slow (of a person); to be dull
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
good performance; good work; great success