Vocabulary

truth is stranger than fiction

to come to bloodshed

that goes without saying but also ...; not only that but ...

cannot help (laughing, feeling sympathy, etc.); cannot hold back (tears, anger, etc.); cannot suppress

nothing special; nothing significant; not a problem

shameless; bold; brazen

to speak (of something)

Kristallnacht (November 9-10, 1938); Night of Broken Glass

big but useless person

it is needless to say

matter is void; all is vanity

being lavish with one's money; spending a huge sum of money at once on a treat

concerning; per; on account of

very truly yours (a complimentary close used in a letter written in an old epistolary style)

red lips and pearly white teeth (said of beautiful women)

how could I (you, etc.) ...?; how dare you (they, etc.) ...; how can you have the nerve to ...?

money comes and goes; money goes around and around

it can't be helped; so it goes; c'est la vie

shape up!; act properly!

what's the matter?

that's not true!; no, no

versatile

inscrutable and interesting are the ways people are brought together

inscrutable are the ways people are brought together; there is no telling how people are brought together; marriages are made in heaven

desperate measure; last-ditch effort

to stitch up a wound

to gasp in surprise

to make eye contact

I wonder about that; don't bet on it; famous last words

how about ...?

the very image of health itself; picture of health

for the first time in one's life

cannot avoid doing; cannot help but (do); is compelled to do; (feel) obliged to (do); has to do

to try and draw someone out; to fish for information

like a part of the family

at very frequent intervals; almost every other day; constantly

reasonable doubt

to read too much into things; to get wrong ideas by letting one's imagination run wild; to have a groundless suspicion

to encourage someone to expect something; to raise someone's hopes

to encourage someone to expect something; to raise someone's hopes