outspoken; forthright; frank; direct
we are of equal status in this regard; we are in the same boat; the same to you; the feeling is mutual
these days; nowadays; recently; lately
it's precisely for that reason that ...; which is precisely why ...
friendship; fellowship; camaraderie
to take seriously; to take someone at their word; to believe (to be true)
hiding one's embarrassment
uncommon; extraordinary (in relation to human characteristics)
excessive; too much; unreasonable
one's self-possession; one's presence of mind
timidly; nervously; hesitantly; trembling (with fear); fearfully; anxiously
yearning; longing for; deep affection
lining; backing; backing up (e.g. a theory); support; bolstering
(stare or glare with) scornful eyes; reproachful eyes; disgusted eyes
to repeatedly admonish; to tell over and over
sensual love; love affair
whether one wants to or not; without choice
downward adjustment; downward revision
now that you say that; now that you mention it
from long ago; from old times; from time immemorial
to rise (suddenly) in the world (to a higher position)
control; management; supervision
general; universal; ordinary; average; (arch.) the same; (arch.) no different
to incur someone's enmity
condolence call; visiting a bereaved family to offer condolences
desolate (e.g. plains); ruined
community; circles; kingdom; erathem; field (electrical); border
struggle (for); scramble; contest
troubled times; turbulent times
expansion; extension; elongation; stretching
major powers of the world; great powers
a handful (of); small amount (of); small number (of); trouncing; crushing
to search for; to seek for; to look for
launching out (e.g. into a career); embarking upon (something); doing with great ambition
plan; scheme; stratagem; trick; trap; plot
diplomacy; selling (e.g. door-to-door); canvassing
affiliated with; under jurisdiction of; under the umbrella
all sorts of; various; miscellaneous; motley
start of a war; beginning of hostilities
not just once; more than once; many times; again and again