essence; true nature; substance; reality
not quite (right); not very good; somewhat (lacking)
real intention; motive; true opinion; what one really thinks
to be at one's wits' end; to be cornered; (lit.) to be packed to the hilt
seems to be; appears to have; supposed to be
to lay bare; to expose; to reveal
loudly (flinging open a door); with a clatter; with a crash (e.g. of a falling structure); completely (change); utterly; louvre window (door, vent, etc.)
just because; even if; even though
in one go; in one gulp; in one breath; immediately; instantly; right away
simple; plain; uncomplicated; straightforward; simple-minded; naive
to be seen; to be in sight; to look; to seem; to come
terrific; staggering; tremendous; frightful; ghastly; horrific
to be troubled; to have difficulty; to be bothered; to be inconvenienced; to be badly off; to be hard up
to take a breath; to take a short rest
wonderful; splendid; magnificent
mockery by means of excessive praise; damning with lavish praise; backhanded compliment
overestimation; overvaluing
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
when it comes to ...; if one were to speak of ...; by ... you mean ...; when you say ... you mean that ...; whenever ...; if it's ... then (without fail)
conditionally; with conditions attached
condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite
to pass (the night); to spend; to reveal; to divulge; to prove; to verify
to gather (attract, receive) attention; to have a high profile; to gain prominence; to become popular
forever; for good; eternally; as long as one likes; indefinitely; no matter what
outward appearance; ostensible; public; official
producer; grower; maker; manufacturer
idea; plan; draft; rough copy; expectation; (arch.) desk
approval; agreement; support; favour; favor
foreign country; other country; another province; strange land; alien land
in regard to; concerning (usu. of disputes)
war; battle; campaign; (arch.) troops; (arch.) forces
quite capable of ...; could happen; not unlikely to
(if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that; (unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario)
war; fighting; fierce competition
to cause; to induce; to bring about; to pull upright; to help up (e.g. a fallen person)
literally; to the letter; literal
authorization; authorisation; acknowledgment; acknowledgement; certification; recognition
thorough; exhaustive; complete
defending to the last; desperate defence; stubborn defence