at the very beginning of one's speech; immediately upon opening one's mouth (to speak); before anything else; first of all
grown-up (manner, etc.); mature; adult
three years; third school year (e.g. of high school)
time; season; period; phase; stage
comparatively; relatively; fairly; considering ...; for ...; despite ...
effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
gift; boon; godsend; (good) result; fruit (e.g. of one's efforts)
art; technique; means; way; stratagem; artifice
overwhelming victory; crushing victory; sweeping victory; landslide victory
unrelated; irrelevant; unconcerned; unconnected
sulking in bed; going to bed in a huff
meeting face-to-face; seeing in person; facing (each other); opposing (traffic, etc.); confronting
good news; happy news; glad tidings
favorable reception; good reputation; popularity
close; intimate; on good terms
being very busy; busyness
scattered; disperse; loose; disconnected; in pieces; in drops
outside the country; abroad
circumference; girth; tour; pilgrimage; circulation (e.g. of blood)
castle (in place names); castle; fortress
people; citizens; subjects; folk
to delight; to please; to make (someone) happy; to give pleasure (to)
to take the blame; (lit.) to cover oneself in mud
very highly commended; highly lauded; very well-received; very popular
regular; ordinary (e.g. session of parliament); established usage; precedent; regular practice
to change (into); to turn (into); to transform (into); to influence
leaving out; omitting; skipping; (beating) in succession; in a row
intention; inclination; mind; idea; wish; view
chance (of success); odds
equal match; good match; fair match; equal in ability; being a worthy rival
studying very hard; studying like mad
study; diligence; working hard; experience; knowledge; discount
having had enough (of); fed up (with); sick and tired (of); to learn one's lesson; to learn from a bad experience
to pile up; to make a heap; to lay (e.g. bricks); to acquire (e.g. experience); to build (a reputation)
mechanism; mechanical parts; jack-in-the-box
ideal land; earthly paradise; Utopia; Arcadia
centre; center; pivot; central nervous system
supremacy (over a nation); hegemony; domination; championship; victory
already completely (did, happened, etc.); already entirely
the year end; end of the year; last days of the year
rich (taste); full-bodied (flavour, flavor); mellow; laid-back (lifestyle); relaxed; comfortable