He was seized with a sudden idea to do sth.

Ps: consider not very seriously.

不大认真地考虑某事物.

Put a construction on sth.

对某事物作某种解释(一般指对言语、行为等)

His face was a ghastly white.

将(某人[某事物])置于隔离的有限范围内.

What was sth. like?

某人[某事物]是个什么样?

Lessen the possibility of sth.

减少某事物发生的可能性.

They were blooming with health and happiness.

健康地成长;长成或发展成(某事物);兴盛.

Which reject and which to accept?

认为某事物是错误的;拒绝接受.

Arrange or fix sth; decide on ( sth ).

安排、确定或决定 ( 某事物 ).

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

不要因为不能马上成为某事物的专家而失望.

Something remains to be a subject of controversy to sb.

对某人来说,某事物仍然备受争议.

He wanted proof before he would believe something.

在他相信某事物之前要先取得证据.

I am not bound to be timid and conventional.

我不必有什么顾虑,也不必随波逐流.

Applause began, a not very stormy, rather thoughtful applause.

掌声出现了, 但并不是暴风雨般的, 而是颇有顾虑的.

Honesty : the feeling that you never need to hold back.

正直: 永远不要羞于展现你的正直诚实.

Journalism also an enterprise, we should not be ashamed to admit it.

新闻业也是企业, 我们不该羞于承认.

And aren't shy about expressing religious and patriotic feelings.

不羞于表达宗教情感与爱国情感.

I am ashamed to tell anyone that I have failed again.

我羞于告诉任何人我又失败了.

But, am ashamed to say it, I sometimes fail.

但我却羞于说出口, 有时当我这样做时我失败了.

Parents were too shy to tackle embarrassing issues as sex head-on.

家长羞于跟孩子正面讨论诸如性这样的尴尬问题.

You are too shy to say to each other face to face or on the phone.

你羞于面对面或在电话上说出来.