one copy (of a document); one letter; one-way traffic; pure straight; winning hand containing nine consecutive tiles of the same suit (i.e. 1-9)
clever; bright; sharp; wise; intelligent; sagacious
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
to settle down (and deal with something); to concentrate all one's energy (on something); to settle oneself (in a place); to settle down (somewhere); to take a solid stance; to lower one's center of gravity (centre)
to break the ice; to broach a subject; to bring up a topic
entreaty; appeal; petition
start of a course; start of lectures; opening of a new course; offering a course (for the first time)
course (e.g. of lectures); academic university unit (professor, lecturers, etc.)
half the amount (of money); half price; half fare
taking a lecture; attending a class; taking a course
to see to it that ...; to make sure that ...; to try to ...; to make an effort to ...
mess; sorry state; -ways; -wards; in the act of ...; just as one is ...
meeting face-to-face; seeing in person; facing (each other); opposing (traffic, etc.); confronting
desktop; desk-top; tabletop; after-dinner speech
to throw down; to throw out; to abandon; to resign; to give freely; to give generously
simultaneous; all at once
rising to action; standing up against; jumping to one's feet
premature; untimely (e.g. death); early
hey there; I say; see here
incitement; sedition; agitation; abetting
to pull (the puppet) strings; to direct things from behind the scenes; to stretch out (and keep going); to linger on
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
having in mind; happening to know (of); idea (of); inkling
investigation; inspection; examination; tune; note; melody
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
to be lucky; to be in luck; to be attached; to have; to be included
deciding first; settling (a matter) first; first priority
hopeless; futile; no use; beyond help; cannot be done
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it,...; I mean
two kinds; second-class (e.g. mail)
another; one more; even more; (not) quite; (not) very
the latter; the second; successor; descendant
uniqueness; individuality
to the end; to the bitter end; to the last; after all; it must be remembered; only
in accordance with; according to; as X, then Y (e.g. as we age we gain wisdom, as wine matures it becomes more valuable, etc.)
large sum (of money); large amount; large denomination (banknote, etc.)
secret techniques (of an art or skill); inner mysteries; essence; quintessence; heart