barely; narrowly; only just; with difficulty
to compete with; to vie for
wealthy; rich; affluent; well-off
to run out of; to dry up; to be depleted; to hit the bottom; to bottom out
property; fortune; means; assets
(foreign) trade; (international) commerce; importing and exporting
to sell like hot cakes; to fly off the shelves
shop that carries a selection of products from several different brands
introduction (from abroad); transmission (through successive generations); being handed down (from generation to generation); being passed down
knockoff; imitation product; counterfeit product
regular customer; valued client
promptly; quickly; without delay; before others; first
to take in; to gather in; to adopt (e.g. an idea); to accept (e.g. advice); to harvest; to reap
smith; blacksmith; small crowbar for extracting nails; cat's paw
towards; against; regarding; in contrast with
maintenance; servicing; putting in place; development; improvement
punishment; penalty; penal regulations; penal provisions; penal code
virtuous mind; good intentions; good will; positive mindset; bona fides; good faith
very rare; very unlikely (to happen); scarcely; seldom; improbable; almost never (occurring)
prescription; statute of limitations; lapsing with time (e.g. of an obligation); no longer standing (e.g. of a promise); ageing; aging
transport; transportation; transit; conveyance
loss (of assets, profit, etc.)
debt; loan; liabilities; number of games under the .500 mark
to apply for; to make an application; to propose (marriage); to offer (mediation); to make an overture (of peace); to challenge
notes; remarks (reference) column
property; fortune; assets
ethics; ethical viewpoint; moral value; sense of duty; sense of ethics
these days; nowadays; recently; lately
common sense; common knowledge; common understanding
delineation; demarcation; drawing a line (e.g. between what's acceptable and unacceptable); (measuring) ruler
gas (as a fuel); gas (state of matter); poison gas; dense fog; thick fog; gas stove; gas cooker
transport staff (driver, conductor, etc.); crew member; crewman
all one has; all one's possessions
unable to stay (on); unable to endure being somewhere a second longer; feel like running away
to insinuate; to satirize; to satirise; to take a dig at
continuance; survival; persistence; retention; duration
foundation; base; basis; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature