bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
to stifle a smile, yawn, etc.; to bite to death
safety; welfare; well-being
also; too; not ... either; (it's not possible) no matter what; although one might wish otherwise
relation; relationship; participation; involvement; influence; effect
serious; important; significant; grave; weighty
to fish; to look for; to search for; to go on a spree (spending, reading, etc.); to binge
although; despite; whereas; while; if only; I wish
what; you-know-what; that thing; whatsit; whachamacallit; (not) at all; (not) in the slightest
to poke fun at; to make fun of; to send up
such; that sort of; that kind of; no way!; never!
that gentleman; that lady; he; she
gradually (progress into a state); in sequence; in order; in turn
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
unnatural; artificial; affected; strained
one day; all day (long); throughout the day; first day of the month
part; portion; amount; worth (as in "two days' worth"); one's means; one's place; one's duty
to end; to come to an end; to close; to finish
to fade; to discolor; to discolour; to diminish; to fade (e.g. of a memory)
exit; gateway; way out; outlet; vent; leak
to start; to begin; to start up (a business, society, etc.); to open (e.g. a store); to start ...; to begin to ...
together (with); at the same time; in a lump
quantity; amount; volume; number; amount of money
employee's attendance record
entry (in a form, register, diary, etc.); filling in; filling out
banknote; bill; note; paper money
to receive; to get; to accept; to take; to interpret; to understand
between-season wear; spring and autumn clothing; together; condition; situation; -ish
-ical; -ive; -like; -ish; (something) like; along the lines of
(in the) neighbourhood; neighborhood; around; about; for instance; say
here; this place; this point; here; these past ... (e.g. three years); these last ...
as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
to jostle; to shove and push; to struggle with one another
to whisper; to murmur; to rumor; to rumour
far from; anything but; not at all; let alone; to say nothing of; not to mention
management; (executive) staff; leaders; leadership; top brass; upper echelons
disquieting; threatening; turbulent; restless; unsettled; disturbing