to go upstream; to go up (a river); to go back (to the past or origin); to date back (to); to trace back (to)
exceptional; unusual; extraordinary; unprecedented; singular
third grade; third class; C-grade
investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
main purpose; primary objective
adapting oneself to the requirements of the moment; playing by ear; ad hoc approach
dull; dreary; dissatisfying; disappointing; unattractive; unappealing
to harden earth into a mass
to overlook; to fail to notice; to miss (seeing)
expectation; anticipation; forecast
if that's the case ...; if so ...; that being the case ...
to make merry; to frolic; to be in high spirits
with trouble; at great pains; rare; valuable; kind; generous
story; tale; talk; discussion
error; mistake; fault; sin; wrongdoing; offense
covered with; stained; smeared
to mind; to care; to worry
to miss a chance; to miss an opportunity
busy; occupied; hectic; restless; hurried; fidgety
to visit; to call on; to arrive (of a season, situation, etc.); to come; to appear
lots of; a ton of; a mountain of; piles of; heaps of; so many
being beaten by one's opponent's persistence; being outlasted; running out of patience; giving in; succumbing (to)
ninth; Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
change for the better; improvement; looking better (than before)
sick of life; world-weary; pessimistic
to probe someone's real intentions; to sound someone out; to try to fathom someone's thoughts
soul; spirit; willpower; vitality; something as important as one's own life; something invaluable
to take an attitude; to take a stance; to commit oneself; to assume a position
another name; synonym; alias; pseudonym
secret investigation; private enquiry; private inquiry; reconnaissance; scouting
anonymous report; (secret) information; tip-off; informing (against)
secret information; intelligence
confinement; imprisonment; incarceration
destruction (esp. of evidence); spoliation; suppression; hiding; concealment
sphere of action; scope of activity; range of work
sensational; inflammatory; incendiary; (sexually) suggestive; lascivious