to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach; to find one's way to; to finally hit on (e.g. an idea)
term-end exam; end-of-term test; finals
how long; how far; how much
condition; assumption; intention; intent; premise (in logic)
way of asking; way of listening; listener
previous time; last time; previous installment; previous instalment; previous session
reaction; response; reaction
thorn; spine; splinter (esp. lodged in one's flesh); hard sharp item (esp. lodged in one's throat, e.g. fish bone); biting words
to stick into; to pierce; to run into
average; mean; balance; equilibrium
to fall below (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to be less than; to be lower than; to fall just short of; to be just under
taking an examination (esp. school and university entrance)
within; inside of; less than
to feel like an idiot; to make a fool of yourself
top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat
regular customer; regular patron; frequenter; constant companion
by nature; naturally; by birth; inborn
to slide; to slip off; to get dislocated; to drag; to pull
influence; effect; to influence; to affect; to have an influence on
indifferent; unconcerned; nonchalant; unmindful; inattentive; careless
to bury (e.g. in the ground); to fill up (e.g. audience fills a hall); to cause to be packed; to plug (a gap); to stop (a gap); to make up for (a loss, shortage, etc.); to make amends
to strike; to hit; to beat; to punch
to talk or say too much; to go too far; to overstate; to exaggerate
order; rank; position (e.g. in a race); precedence
improvement (e.g. in skill, ability); advance; progress; communication of opinions of the general populace to those of high rank
joy; delight; rapture; pleasure; gratification; rejoicing
writing off (a debt); cancellation; balancing the books; cancelling out (gains or losses); making even; making up (for)
unflaggingly; steadily; untiringly; knocking; tapping; clicking
to pile up; to stack up; to accumulate
steady; honest; sober; straightforward
entirely; completely; all; nothing but
textbook; coursebook; schoolbook
study group; study meeting
festival; feast; harassment by an Internet pitchfork mob; online shaming; galore (as in "goals galore"); frenzy
devising (a way); contriving; device; design; dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
first (of all); firstly; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
to follow in order; to go through step-by-step
in the meanwhile; during the time
irritation; annoyance; frustration
logical; cogent; well-reasoned; logically consistent
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence