(in) the middle of; (in) the midst of; (in) the course of; (at) the height of
to become public; to become known; to come out in the open; to be formal; to be official
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
for better or worse; for good and bad; regardless of merit; both good and bad
calculating; mercenary; selfish; self-interested
the trouble is that ...; the problem is that ...; unfortunately; annoyingly
unreliable; undependable; helpless; forlorn; worried; uneasy
carefree; optimistic; careless; reckless; heedless; happy-go-lucky
very hungry; starving; fawning; bowing and scraping; giving in; being dented
story; tale; talk; discussion
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
order; command; directions; instructions
blunder; miss; slip; oversight
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
to come to nothing; to be in vain; to lead nowhere
outstanding; excellent; exceptional; preeminence; distinction; extraordinariness
trembling from fear; trembling all over
twice; again; second time
member; participant; attendee; lineup (sport)
former boyfriend; ex-boyfriend
hardening; vulcanization; hardening (of attitude, stance, etc.); stiffening; upturn (in the market); firming up
to make a list; to enumerate
round; spherical; circular
feminine; womanly; female
blank form; sheets of paper; sheet of paper
in error; by mistake; by accident; accidentally
to beat; to attack (an enemy); to do away with; to finish off
first and foremost; above all; most importantly of all
economic slump; hard times; poor (business); dull; gloomy; cheerless
irritating; annoying; tedious (work, person, etc.); boring; depressing; dark (e.g. story)
fast working; fast in forming relationships with women; quick to resort to violence
demonstrative of one's worth; worthy of one's reputation; living up to one's name; bolstering one's reputation; enhancing one's prestige; winning one honour
popularity; favour; defense; defence; agreement; receiver of technique (e.g. in martial arts)
being very popular; being in great demand
female clothing; wearing female clothing; cross dressing (for a man)
willpower; energy; vitality
yesterday and today; only recently; just recently; only yesterday
punch (with the fist); punching (a hole); hole punch; punch (drink); punch (in a song, speech, etc.); impact
to give (someone) a treat; to be extravagant; to live luxuriously; to be proud; to be haughty
effeminate; unmanly; cowardly; sissy
price; cost; charge; payment; bill; fee