to loosen; to slacken; to relax (attention, efforts, etc.); to let down (one's guard); to relax (a rule); to ease (e.g. restrictions)
gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
to yield oneself (to something); to devote oneself (to something); to surrender oneself (to something)
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
forbidding to speak; muzzling (a person); bribing into secrecy; hush money
to be fickle; to be frivolous; to be flippant; to be flighty; to be giddy; to be restless
series; sequence; keiretsu (group); conglomeration of businesses linked by cross-shareholdings; affiliated; subsidiary
thereabouts; vicinity; that area; that situation; those circumstances
bargaining; haggling; tactics; strategy
assuming that ...; supposing that ...
matter for great congratulation
enduring something out of pride; putting up with it; grinning and bearing it
good thing; strong point; good family; prestigious school; the right moment; utter
to lie; to cheat; to pretend; to trick; to deceive
the facts; the truth; the true state of affairs; in truth; in fact; in reality
owner-operator company; corporation in which the business manager is also the major stockholder
to recover; to rally; to improve; to pick up
to become clear; to be made public
to bring to a finish; to bind firmly; to superintend
to be sticky; to be adhesive; to persevere; to persist; to stick to
to break; to be broken; to be folded; to give in; to back down; to turn (a corner)
to take another good look at; to reconsider; to analyze; to reexamine
side of a geometric shape (e.g. triangle or rectangle)
arrangements; plan; programme; program; preparations
attaching (documents, etc.); appending; affixing
to dig up; to unearth; to uncover
meaning; point (e.g. of a statement); gist; goal; intent; object
how should I put it?; what shall I say?; well, you know; like
established fact; fait accompli
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
to shout with exultation; to shout for joy
to make out to be; to set someone up (as); to prepare (e.g. someone for a role); to make (e.g. "a man out of him"); to frame
composed expression; clear face
variables; uncertain elements; uncertainties; imponderables
after a short while; not long after; soon; before long; shortly thereafter
steady; sound; reliable; solid