strict; severe; stringent; rigorous; rigid; firm
sparse; thin; scattered; straggling; sporadic
gag order; gag rule; gag law
to spread out; to lay out; to take a position; to impose widely (e.g. over a city)
disassembly; dismantling; factorization; decomposition; resolution; deblocking
to go uninvited; to call on without an invitation; to barge in on; to throng to; to crowd into; to converge upon
to escape from; to get out
to compete; to contend; to vie; to contest
at any rate; in any case; at the very least; if nothing else
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
treatment (of a person); dealing with
large (amount of money); huge; hefty; expensive
cash bonus; reward; bounty
every day and every night
to crowd (a house); to throng to (a door)
feeling of relief (for the time being); peace of mind (for now)
leading actor; star; leading figure; central figure; key figure
sole; single; solo; independence; singleness; singularity
unique flavor (flavour); (degree of) flavouring; distinctive quality; special charm
competent in all fields; jack of all trades; very active in many fields; versatile; all-round; (lit.) 8 faces and 6 arms
being very active; being very useful; playing a very active part; making a spectacular showing; great efforts; splendid work
awarding; conferment; granting; presentation
hundred points; perfect mark
to compromise; to meet halfway; to step up to; to walk up to; to approach
certain amount; some; certain person; Mr So-and-so; (arch.) I; (arch.) me
plot; intrigue; scheme; conspiracy; agreement between two or more people to commit an unlawful act
great laughter; burst of laughter
pushing; backing; boosting; pushing from behind (a cart, etc.); pusher
to reheat; to steam over; to bring up again (a problem that has been dealt with); to take up again; to drag up
bureaucratic routine; red tape
to forget everything; to lose one's memory (e.g. of a period); to black out
subtracting points; points deducted
to engage (with); to be in gear (with); to bite each other; to be on the same wavelength
bright; intelligent; clever; smart
to set about in earnest; to put one's back into something
one by one; in detail; minutely
to ask for permission (before doing something); to ask first
to be renewed; to change; to be improved; to be reformed; to stand on ceremony; to be formal
steepness; steep place; harsh (look); sharp (tongue)