to declare; to assert; to say bluntly; to say straight out
look of amazement; looking dumbfounded
riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
unexpectedly; surprisingly; unexpected; unanticipated; unforeseen
jokingly; in the form of a joke
serious look (on one's face); straight face
serious; not joking; straight
height (of body); stature
anything and everything; just about everything
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
skillful; skilful; delicious; appetizing; fortunate; splendid
unless (you do something)
to manage something successfully; to be successful
and yet; though; when; in spite of
infancy; childhood; tender age
the same generation; coeval
dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; (far) better; exceptional
to run around; to bustle about
to read and understand; to subject to close analysis; to read deeply; to decipher; to decode
yearning; longing; aspiration; adoration; admiration
to boast of; to be proud of; to take pride in
sunburn; suntan; tan; becoming discolored from the sun (e.g. paper); yellowing
here and there; in places
fresh wound; fresh bruise
still; as yet; (not) yet; more; (more) still; at least
there is no need to ...; never happens; there is never a time when
as if nothing had happened
to make sense; to be meaningful
riches; wealth; resources; lottery
influence; clout; leverage
flatly rejecting; curtly refusing; beating easily; defeating handily; a kick
nameless; unnamed; obscure; unknown; causeless; unjustifiable
above the clouds; heaven; the Imperial Court; something unreachable; place of out of reach
firm; strong; solid; stable
established fact; fait accompli
to come from; to have roots in
selection (esp. from many people for an important job position); exceptional promotion
special training; intensive training; crash course
easy; simple; there's no way that ...
locational advantage; advantageous position; products from the land (farm output, timber, minerals, etc.); land rent