Many species of coral are calcifiers; this is how they construct the towering structures that become reefs.

He knew he was thisclose to cuffing Bobbie Faye. Thisclose to keeping her from getting killed in the inevitable cross fire he sensed was coming; he felt it all the way to the cellular level of his bones.

I have never yet been able to steer my lovers through the Scylla of presence, or the Charybdis of absence.

to erect a house or a fort