Vocabulary

as affairs stand; judging from the present situation; as things are now

my condolences

then; in that case; considering; if that is the case; if so

therefore; and so; for that reason; accordingly; consequently; hence

therefore; and so; for that reason; accordingly; consequently; hence

by some chance; somehow; in some way

avoiding committing oneself; noncommittal

well-modulated (voice); nicely varied (writing style); lively; full-bodied (flavour); complex

this way (of doing); this method

it's hard to tell a poor thinker from a sleeping one; they to whom only bad ideas come might as well be asleep; inadequate ideas are worse than none at all

frankly speaking

mere shadow of one's former self; having no trace left (of former glories, talent, looks, etc.); unrecognizable (as the person one used to be); unrecognisable

unbearable to look at; too miserable (or awful) to watch; cannot bear to see

(so miserable that it is) painful to look at; painful to watch

do not chase the one who leaves

accept one who comes to you

turn away no one; do not cast out those that come to you

apt to think; tend to think

as (one pleases, one is told, etc.); wherever (e.g. one's feet take one); according to

Disaster Preparedness Day (September 1)

do not lend money to a man who doesn't have an erection in the morning (because he is not in good health and might die before he can repay)

to cry tears of joy; to weep for joy

tears of joy

adult toy shop (i.e. a sex shop)

for better or worse; for good and bad; regardless of merit; both good and bad

totally (different); completely

to sentence; to assign a penalty

to be sharp; to be keen; to be on the ball; to have a mind like a steel trap; to be clever

you can never be too careful; you can't be too cautious; better safe than sorry

lucky; fortunate

something or other; anything

to get (e.g. the gist of something); to understand

please sit down; please have a seat

regardless of right or wrong; regardless of merit; both good and bad

the school year

finished doing; did completely

feel uneasy; on tenterhooks; in suspense; on pins and needles

to blank out; to panic

to eat up (in no time); to gobble up; to make short work of; to put away

he himself