Vocabulary

U-shape

whatever

no matter what it takes; by any means necessary; at all costs; by hook or by crook

generally speaking; all in all; in general

to show one's age (e.g. to start creaking at the joints); to wear out (e.g. machinery)

the bounds of reason; the limits of (common) sense

another; one more

no-hit, no-run game; no-hitter

to feel relieved; to forget about one's troubles; to settle into peace of mind

of little importance; trivial; worthless; valueless

thereabouts; vicinity; that area

quick to take a hint; very responsive; quick on the uptake

not knowing when to give up; being a bad loser

to grumble about something (trivial)

irritable

to sit silently (and submissively) at a meeting

to sit silently (and submissively) at a meeting

based on

invisible; unseen

stay calm; don't be rushed; don't be flustered

to fall through; to come to nothing; to be ruined

to be too late (to be of use)

to be horrified; to be filled with trepidation

astonished beyond words; speechless out of shock

speechless (with amazement); struck dumb; tongue-tied; dumbfounded

making no sound; staying quiet

disassemble

unrelated; irrelevant; unconcerned; unconnected

unrelated; irrelevant; unconcerned; unconnected

curiously enough; oddly enough; strange to tell

I got it; I see; I now know; so that's the reason

easy task; no problem

on very good terms with each other; romantically attached

king of the hill; king of the castle; king of the mountain

thereafter; after doing that; followed by

according to; by (means of); due to; because of

near the mark; pretty close; not a bad guess

it seems so; that's what it looks like

on the least pretext; at every opportunity; whenever there is a chance; at the drop of a hat

(villains) of the same stripe; birds of a feather; badgers of the same hole