at the very beginning of one's speech; the first thing (one) says after opening the mouth
to ask; to inquire; to blame (someone) for; to accuse of; to care about; to regard as important
to gather (attract, receive) attention; to have a high profile; to gain prominence; to become popular
to strain (one's ears, eyes); to prick up (one's ears)
benefit; use; good; profit; gains
frank; direct; plain; straightforward; point-blank; concise
imitating; copying; mimicry; behavior; behaviour; action
old; aged; long; since long ago; of the distant past; long-ago
to puzzle over; to think deeply about; to rack one's brains over (wrack)
to be wounded; to get injured; to get hurt feelings; to get damaged; to get chipped
secret passage; underground passage; loophole; hole one can go through; opening
to touch; to come in contact with; to receive (e.g. visitor); to attend to; to receive (news); to get; to encounter
good person; virtuous person
appointment; assignment; promotion
document circulated to staff to obtain approval (for a decision, policy, etc.)
rate; ratio; profit; assignment; 10%; unit of ten percent; match
project; enterprise; business; (arch.) act; (arch.) deed; (arch.) conduct
change of occupation; career change
household economy; housekeeping; homemaking
housework; domestic chores; family affairs; household matters
drawing up (e.g. legal document, contract, will, etc.); preparing; writing; framing; making; producing
wasteful; a waste; too good; more than one deserves; impious; profane
convenient; handy; useful
a little; some; somewhat; amount; quantity; number
magical powers; supernatural powers; spell; charm
study; research; investigation
belonging to (a group, organization, etc.); affiliation (with); being attached to; being under the control of
to aim at (for, to do, to become); to try for; to have an eye on; to go toward; to head for
to pick up; to find; to gather
dissuasion (from resigning, leaving, etc.); persuading (to stay)
that's true; of course; obviously
thick voice; husky voice; guttural voice; voice with a thick accent
opposite side; reverse; (on the) other hand
(my) wife; inside the home; one's family
chores; odd jobs; miscellaneous affairs; miscellaneous expenses
role; assignment; position (of responsibility); post; part (in a play, film, etc.); role
low rank; lower position; subordinate position; lower order (e.g. byte)
keenly; deeply; calmly; quietly; fixedly (e.g. gazing, staring)
working one's way up; self-made person; veteran
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
change (personnel); transfer; reshuffle