secretary (government); director; chief
postbox; mailbox; post; position; post (e.g. goalpost); post- (e.g. post-Cold War)
free; unrestricted; (with) complete mastery; completely in control
how; in what way; how about; questionable
way (of doing); manner; method; means
to think; to use one's head; to exercise one's brains
to bind (a criminal) with rope; to arrest; to seize; to bind (something) with rope
wiping out; sweeping away; eradicating; dispelling
to be added to; to be appended; to join in (e.g. a group of friends); to participate; to increase (e.g. heat); to gain in (e.g. influence)
killing two birds with one stone
lukewarm; tepid; half-hearted; vague; lenient; mild
it seems so; that's what it looks like
to arrive (at one's destination); to reach; to come to a head; to reach a conclusion; to culminate (in)
provocation; stirring up; arousal; excitement; stimulation
to glare at each other; to confront each other
dyer's knotweed (Persicaria tinctoria, used to produce indigo dye); indigo (dye); indigo (colour)
stinginess; miserliness; shabby; cheap; petty; narrow-minded
to do with enthusiasm; to be excited to do; to throw oneself into
being extremely fond of; having a weakness for; having no eye for; being a poor judge of; having no chance (of succeeding)
clumsy (work); awkward; poorly made; ugly (of a person); unattractive; plain
fickle; capricious; inconstant; changeable; whimsical
weakly; helplessly; weak; flimsy; easy to bend
(unpleasant) state of affairs; predicament; mess
to dominate (usu. one's husband)
beginning and end; from beginning to end; result; outcome; dealing with something successfully
splitting the cost; Dutch treat
to run (of liquid); to spread; to blur; to blot; to ooze; to well up (of tears, etc.)
absurd; unreasonable; extreme; senseless; disorderly; chaotic
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
sentiment; sentimentality
in history; ever; historical
unprecedented; unique; unparalleled
achievement; meritorious deed; distinguished service; contribution
to check through; to thoroughly investigate
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
to compile; to bring together; to weave; to put together; to bring to a conclusion; to wrap up
serious damage; injury or loss; heavy blow