payment in advance; advance payment; prepayment
efforts; exertion; endeavour; assistance; services
company employee; member of a corporation; company stockholder (esp. in legal contexts)
criticism; blame; censure; attack; reproach
the big two...; two major...; two main...
no matter what it takes; by any means necessary; at all costs; by hook or by crook
common; shared; to be common (to); to be shared (by); -wide
investigator (usu. of criminal cases)
protection; shield; shadow of eaves
following (in the footsteps of); catching up with; coming level with
operation (of a machine, etc.); operating; driving; working (capital, etc.)
normal; usual; ordinary; everyday
ability to take action; ability to take initiatives; energy; dynamism; drive
coolness; calmness; composure; all right; fine; OK
to deceive with smooth talk; to wheedle; to give someone a snow job
as usual; as is one's habit
each time; always; often; thank you for your continued patronage
risky; dangerous; suggestive; bordering on the obscene; (arch.) extreme; (arch.) harsh
fairness; impartiality; justice; objectivity
to harden; to solidify; to become firm; to become certain; to gather (together); to assemble
investigation (e.g. by police or prosecutors); examination; inquiry; enquiry
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
voluntary questioning (by the police); voluntary interview
to shave (wood, leather, etc.); to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.); to curtail; to delete; to erase
plane; sharpen; whittle; pare; shave (leather); scrape off
becoming numb; becoming desensitized
fee; charge; rate; material
retrenchment; curtailment; economy
to save; to rescue; to help; to assist; to support (financially); to contribute (to)
total; complete; all-out; general; extensive; full-scale
a help; an aid; some assistance
mindset; outlook; view; way of looking at things; perspective
enclosure; annex; separate sheet; accompanying sheet
views; opinion; discernment; pride; self-respect
serious reflection; soul-searching; penitence
myself; oneself; (arch.) I; (arch.) me; (arch.) you (referring to one's inferior)