poor excuse (of a); nearly non-existent; barely sufficient; token (effort, etc.); symbolic
seasonal greeting; conventional opening phrase in a letter, appropriate to the season
to worry about (someone's welfare or comfort); to feel anxious about; to have apprehensions of
one's own handwriting; autograph
(private) secretary; treasured book; secret book
monopoly; monopolization; exclusivity; hogging; keeping to oneself
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
to send; to forward; to hand over (e.g. money); indicates that the action is directed towards the speaker; indicates that the object of an action arrives at or is received by the speaker
crushing; squashing; crumpling; crinkling (into a broad smile); forming creases; forming wrinkles
to try to do; to attempt to do
if you are so inclined; if it suits you; if you like
to pick up; to adopt (a proposal); to take up (a topic); to take issue with; to make a problem of; to report (news); to cover
disposal; throwing away; dealing with (a problem); measure; punishment; penalty
hesitation; wavering; faltering; balking; recoil; flinching
application; entry; request; subscription; offer; proposal
stagnation; tie-up; standstill; congestion; delay; accumulation
bad influence; negative influence
powerful person; influential person
easy; simple; easygoing; lighthearted; simplistic
withdrawal; retraction; revocation; repeal
to start to move; to get going; to come alive
construction cost; set-up cost; maintenance cost
supreme command; direction over all
thank you; thanks; much (thanks); very (sorry); quite; really; somehow
ground; crust (earth); foundation (building, etc.); base; constituency; power base
future; (future) prospects; bringing (from abroad, another region, etc.); bringing about; giving rise to
to call; to summon; to send for; to call together
interested person; volunteer; supporter
counter for jewels in a watch; counter for transistors, diodes, etc. in an electronic product
regarding as important; attaching importance to; taking a serious view of; putting emphasis on
pot (esp. teapot, coffee pot); vacuum bottle; thermos flask
comparatively; relatively
use; adoption; acceptance; appointment; employment; engagement
then; in that case; considering; if that is the case; if so
to pile up; to stack; to load (car, ship, etc.); to pack; to acquire; to accumulate
to begin to write; to start writing; to write out (e.g. on a blackboard); to extract (and write down); to write down (the important parts); to export
core; core; hardcore; all-out