no matter how you put it; whatever the circumstances may be; say what you like; no matter how you look at it
nervous; highly strung; sensitive; fussy; worried about petty things
to study (in depth); to learn; to take lessons in
especially; particularly; surely; clearly; as if; as though
could result in (something undesirable); might end up (doing, happening); run the risk of
sad; miserable; unhappy; sad; lamentable; deplorable
cross-examination; close questioning; demanding an explanation
investigation (e.g. into someone's guilt); questioning; pressing; catching up; overtaking
calm; serenity; tranquillity; tranquility
to dress (oneself in); to attire oneself in; to adorn; to pretend; to feign; to affect
to float; to set afloat; to show on one's face (smile, sadness, etc.); to recall; to call to mind
not caring; not giving a damn
in appearance; to look at; judging from appearances
to play dumb; to feign ignorance; to play the fool; to be in one's dotage
in some way or other; one way or another; somehow; only just; barely
side; edge; beside; while (doing); in addition to; at the same time
careful consideration; deliberation; thinking over carefully
intelligence; intellect; brains
correct; right; correct interpretation (answer, solution)
blunder; slip; error; error
plan; meter; measuring device; (in) total; total (of)
exaggerated; overblown; pretentious
sigh (of grief, disappointment, etc.); grieving; lamenting; deploring
first (of all); firstly; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
heavenly body; celestial body; astronomical object
to insert; to interrupt; to slip in a word; to harbor (e.g. doubts); to harbour
a matter of course; what is to be expected; par for the course
to beat to death; to kill
long ago; once upon a time
absurd; nonsensical; preposterous
to have a talk; to tell a story
to begin to say; to start talking; to broach (a matter); to be the first to say; to suggest (doing); to propose
coercion; extortion; compulsion; force
alternate; alternating; mutual; reciprocal