to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
to pretend to be tough; to put on a brave front; to whistle in the dark; to bluff
to start to say; to attempt to say; to be about to say; to speak to; to address
to talk back; to answer back; to retort; to say over; to repeat (what one has said)
sure; no mistaking it; for certain; without doubt
(not) ever; (not) by any means; (not) in the least; (not) in any way; (not) at all
wrong (guess or estimate); misdirected; irrelevant; off the point
start; beginning; build up; how well a pitcher pitches at the start of the game
mess; sorry state; -ways; -wards; in the act of ...; just as one is ...
humorous; funny; amusing; laughable; hilarious; comical
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
displeasure; discomfort; unpleasantness; indisposition; ailment
to represent; to signify; to reveal; to show; to express; to make widely known
indeed; really; absolutely; truly; actually; very
to push away; to thrust aside; to detach oneself from; to keep away from; to act coldly; to do without emotion
seeming to want to say something; looking like one wants to give one's opinion
to; for; from the standpoint of; as far as ... is concerned
other people's affairs; somebody else's problem
to do; to undertake; to send; to dispatch; to put; to move; to give (esp. to someone of equal or lower status)
drunkard; heavy drinker; boozer
even; (if) only; just; besides; on top of that
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
to get carried away; to become over-excited; to push one's luck; to push a good thing too far
one's post; place of work; workplace
position; situation; viewpoint; standpoint; point of view
use; utilization; utilisation; application
order; command; decree; (software) instruction; statement
lack of self-reliance; depending on others
reason; logic; sense; truth; right
brow; glabella; middle forehead; area between the eyebrows
to wrinkle up (one's eyebrows, one's nose); to furrow; to crimple
disappointed love; broken heart; unrequited love; being lovelorn
nonsense; silly talk; drivel; rubbish
surplus; margin; leeway; composure; placidity; complacency
at the most; at best; to the utmost; as much as possible; as much as one can
worry; concern; anxiety; care; help; aid
bitter (e.g. criticism); sharp; biting; severe; scathing; harsh
to bite; to chew; to gnaw; to fumble one's words (esp. during a play, broadcast, etc.); to falter with one's words; to crash against (e.g. of waves); to break onto (shore)
to comfort; to console; to amuse
barking up the wrong tree; calling at the wrong house
human being; human; person; character (of a person)
when; at what time; how soon; normal times; ordinary days