self-deprecation; self-derision; self-mockery; laughing at oneself
from the beginning; without hesitation; flatly (e.g. refusing); entirely; completely
sudden; abrupt; unexpected; unforeseen
laughing foolishly; cackling
jokingly; in the form of a joke
funny story; funny anecdote
sure; no mistaking it; for certain; without doubt
to drive to death (e.g. by suicide); to cause to die
to show signs of ...; to have the appearance of ...
to curse; to put a curse on; to detest intensely
feeling refreshed; feeling relieved
ringleader; main culprit; main cause; source
to finger; to touch; to make changes to; to tinker with; to dabble in; to do as a hobby
to be at one's wits' end; to be cornered; (lit.) to be packed to the hilt
to puzzle over; to think deeply about; to rack one's brains over (wrack)
point of uncertainty; unclarified issue; doubt
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
vague; fuzzy; elusive; slippery
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
great; grand; magnificent; outstanding; mighty
common people; ordinary people; masses
taking no notice (of); thinking nothing of; disregarding; not aware of; completely ignoring; being out of consideration
good-for-nothing; worthless
another; one more; not quite; not very good; lacking
not feeling like doing ...; having no mind to ...; being in no mood for ...; indifferent; half-hearted; dispirited
vacantly; blankly; openmouthed; with one's mouth wide-open; with a whack; with a thump
one-by-one; separately; every single; each and every; without omission
characteristic (of); peculiar (to)
smelling burnt; smelling scorched; smelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out); tense; suspicious; dubious
favorite; favourite; pet (e.g. teacher's pet); bookmark (in web browser)
to make a mistake (in); to commit an error; to be wrong; to be incorrect; to mislead; to misguide
implication; nuance; shade of meaning; connotation
to deceive; to falsify; to dodge; to beg the question (issue, difficulties); to varnish over; to gloss over
to clear up; to clear away; to refresh (e.g. spirits); to be cleared (e.g. of a suspicion); to be dispelled; to be banished
to be foolish; to be stupid; to be ridiculous
to look away; to avert one's eyes
one-eyed; first (in a series); initial
to wring (towel, rag); to squeeze; to squeeze (fruit to extract juice); to press; to rack (one's brains); to strain (one's voice); to extort
topic; subject; much talked about; topical; in the news