ability to get things done
dregs; sediment; lees (esp. sake); leftovers; by-product; worthless item; junk
to exclude; to leave out (of conversations, etc.); to freeze out; to send to Coventry
gear; cogwheel; cog (in an organization, company, etc.); cog in the machine
precision instrument or machine
pleased to make your acquaintance
inconspicuous; unobtrusive; low-profile
look like; sound like; savor of; smack of
final stage; final stretch; live printing area (in publishing); gallery (in a theatre); driving (animals, fish, etc.); herding
to tame (e.g. animal); to domesticate
picking out; taking out; (surgical) removal; exposure
pilloried criminal exposed to public view; public scorn or humiliation; person shamed in front of others
largest ever; biggest; record
predicament; one's ground; one's position
natural; reasonable; understandable
to dominate; to prevail; to be superior to; to get ahead of; to get the upper hand
no one at all; no one, who he or she may be
confusion; mixing; merger
teacher (to whom one owes a debt of gratitude); mentor; one's former teacher
equal (in ability); even; evenly matched; well-matched; on par (with)
a question (an issue) of where responsibility (liability) lies; a question of who is responsible (to blame)
not a moment to waste; there is no time to lose; cannot wait any longer
elder sister; older female friend
nowhere in particular; just out for a bit; (euph. for) toilet break
lack of words; being tongue-tied; suppressing what you want to say
completely (beaten, defeated, etc.); thoroughly; utterly; black and blue; to a pulp
handstand; headstand; being upside down; being in reverse
department (in an organization); division; club; part; component; category
early-morning and late-night visits (e.g. by reporters); early-morning and late-night attacks
to look after (often medically); to take care of
idiom derived from historical events or classical literature of China
undertaking; underwriting; acceptance
this and that; one thing and another
hectic; topsy-turvy; chaotic
to leave (something) undone; to neglect (a duty, task, etc.); to break (a promise, appointment, etc.); to stand (someone) up
departure; leaving; starting; standing