grasping; gripping; handful; fistful; handle; grip; rice ball
to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise
before I knew it; next thing you know; when I came to
I'm sorry; my apologies; may I come in?; permission; leave; dismissal
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
centre; center; pivot; central nervous system
small fish; small fry; (a) nobody; small fry; unimportant person
first-person plural (or singular); second or third person plural (implies speaker is of higher status than those referred to)
after all; in the end; anyway; (cannot) possibly; (not) at all; (not) by any means
to pass through; to pass by; to pass (of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to exceed
rather; better; instead; if anything
to be grateful; to feel grateful; to be thankful
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about
to raise; to elevate; to do up (one's hair); to fly (a kite, etc.); to launch (fireworks, etc.); to land (a boat); to show someone (into a room)
to surround; to crowd around
flame; blaze; flames (of intense emotion, e.g. love, jealousy, anger); passion
to emit; to spout; to spurt; to boil over
to scream; to whine; to grumble; to complain
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext
three times; thrice; third (musical interval); many times; over and over again
eye; eyeball; eyesight; sight; look; stare; notice
bomb blast; blast (from an explosion); shock wave
to be anxious or concerned about; to ponder (anxiously); to fear; to investigate; to consider; to plan
smoke screen; dazzler; camouflage; deceptive means; magic; witchcraft
to support; to prop; to sustain; to hold at bay; to stem; to check
to risk one's life (to do); to put one's life on the line; to step forward (to do); to give one's all
to protect; to guard; to defend; to keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe
to worry about (someone's welfare or comfort); to feel anxious about; to have apprehensions of
something; something or other; so-and-so; somehow; anyhow; one way or another
to protect (someone); to look after (e.g. an injured leg); to defend; to cover for; to stand up for; to stick up for
many; much; plenty; hardly
small piece; fragment; bit
(one's) older brother; lad; sonny
motionlessly (e.g. stand, wait); (be) still; fixedly (e.g. gaze, stare); intently (e.g. listen, think); patiently (endure); stoically
to hang over; to cover; to fall upon someone (responsibility, burden, pressure, etc.)