(private) investigation company; research agency
questionnaire; survey; poll
maintenance; conservatism; conservativeness; conservation
ageing; aging; senile deterioration
used to indicate respect for the listener (or reader)
change again and again; seesaw back and forth; being in a state of flux; backtracking repeatedly
employment (long term); hire
to trouble; to bother; to annoy
to act as a go-between (for); to mediate; to arrange; to entertain (guests); to treat; to receive
calling out to someone with love or good will; phone call to a loved one; fervent request; heartfelt appeal
whirlwind tour; one-day trip
occasional; infrequent; rare
tip-off (to the authorities); information (on); anonymous report
following (a precedent, former policy, etc.); continuing with; sticking to; observing
baby girl; primary schoolgirl
most recent work (e.g. book, film, etc.); latest work; latest offering
timidly; nervously; with nervous diffidence; trembling with fear
hard to see; indistinct; obscure; illegible
skewer; spit; skewering; impalement; running through (e.g. with spear)
willow (any tree of genus Salix); weeping willow (Salix babylonica)
crash; smash; crunch; bang; breaking sound
basic policy; fundamental policy; fundamental plan of action
early; a little earlier than usual; a little faster than usual; slightly quicker
going off course; going out of bounds
apt to think; tend to think
flooring the gas pedal; pedal to the metal
protector (e.g. chest); guard
quadrilateral; quadrangle; tetragon
secret plan; secret scheme; secret stratagem; secret method
driving skill; one's skill as a driver
gravitational acceleration; acceleration of gravity