selfish; self-centred; egotistical
-ness; indicates assertion; come (on); come now; er; um; indicates scrutiny, critique or mistrust
haughty; arrogant; insolent; proud; overbearing
to finish; to get it over with; to settle; to pay back; to get along (without something); to make do with (without)
self-confidence; confidence (in oneself)
to tighten; to stiffen; to brace; to strain
real feeling; actual feeling; to actually feel; to have a real feeling (that ...); to experience personally
that; the matter in question
under-the-table payoff; offer of an illegal profit
if it is (the case that ...)
to mind; to care about; to be an issue; to matter; to keep company; to care for; to interfere with
to loosen the reins; to let up on (someone)
only; merely; approximately; about; just (finished, etc.); as if to; (as though) about to
carrot and stick; (lit.) candy and whip
proper use; using (different things) for different purposes
degassing; gas drainage; gas venting; letting off steam; giving vent to one's frustrations; cooling off
since; for the past ... (e.g. ten years); this person; this gentleman
which (of three or more); well; now; c'mon
plan; scheme; stratagem; trick; trap; plot
to lurk; to be hidden; to be concealed; to lie dormant; to be latent
goes without saying; needless to say; obvious
that's the way it is; such is life
to finish; to get through with; to graduate; to come to an end; to end; to finish doing ...
the following week; the next week
poor region; deprived area
to pass (of time); to elapse
desire; wish; request; entreaty; prayer; (written) application
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
under (guidance, supervision, rules, the law, etc.); under (a flag, the sun, etc.); beneath; with (e.g. one blow); on (the promise, condition, assumption, etc. that ...); (someone's) side
scale; scope; plan; structure
dispatch; despatch; deployment; temporary employee (esp. from an agency); temporary worker; agency temp
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that
sudden; abrupt; urgent; pressing; steep; sharp; rapid
duty; function; office; mission; task; role
(common) soldier; rank and file; army; troops; warfare; strategy
secret; private; surreptitious
dissatisfaction; discontent; displeasure; complaint; unhappiness
to spill; to drop; to grumble (about); to complain (of); to let (one's feelings) show