dreary; bleak; monotonous; tasteless; unrefined
hard to believe; fabulous; unbelievable; incredible
I don't want to boast but
to have a lot of influence (in); to have clout (with); to be influential; to have contacts (in)
condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite
care; looking after; trouble; bother; good offices; recommendation
ulterior motive; plot; scheme; complicated circumstances; intricacies
judge's sentence; assessment of a case
heavy; weighty; heavy (feeling); depressed; slow; sluggish; important (position, responsibility, etc.)
to dig up; to turn up; to tear up; to rake up (e.g. old scandal); to dig over
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)
plan; project; schedule; scheme; program; programme
than; other than; except; but
insistent; obstinate; persistent; too rich (taste, etc.); fatty; heavy
tightly (holding on); firmly; strongly (built); solidly; properly; well
contract negotiation; contract discussion
to be on track; to be going to plan; to enter orbit
studying abroad; studying at a different school, etc. (usu. for a specific purpose)
English writing; English sentence; English text; English literature; English lit
to run away; to flee; to make off; to start to run away
disqualification; elimination; incapacity; being unfit for one's role; being a failure
stinginess; miserliness; shabby; cheap; petty; narrow-minded
to pick up; to find; to gather
favour; favor; obligation; debt of gratitude
sale; selling; selling point; gimmick; seller; vendor
to save; to rescue; to help; to assist; to support (financially); to contribute (to)
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
reality; actuality; hard fact
anything and everything; just about everything
even if not; even without
instant; moment; for an instant
absence; being away from home; house-sitting; house-sitter; being left unattended to (of one's studies, etc.); neglecting
examiner; investigator; inquisitor; agent
to come true (of a wish, prayer, etc.); to be realized; to suit (e.g. a purpose); to meet (wishes, ideals, etc.); to match (implies competition); to rival
exchange of ideas; exchange of opinions; brainstorming
advance; moving forward; progress
forces of opposition; opposing forces; counterforce
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it
meanwhile; in the meantime; by the same token; in contrast
decider; person who decides; deciding factor; clincher; trump card
perception; intuition; the sixth sense
to visit; to call on; to pay a visit to
to turn over; to turn upside down; to knock over; to tip over; to overturn (e.g. a decision); to upset