burlesque; low comedy; farce
in accordance with plans; just as planned
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
to have no way of knowing; to be completely ignorant of
dispatch; despatch; deployment; temporary employee (esp. from an agency); temporary worker; agency temp
standing by; awaiting an opportunity; being on alert
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
advance notice; previous note; preliminary announcement; trailer (film, TV); preview
perhaps; probably; generous; many; much
important task; important role; major part (in a film, play, etc.); leading role; high-scoring combination
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
isn't it?; let's ...; why don't we ...; how about we ...
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
stage (theatre, theater); scene or setting (e.g. of novel, play, etc.)
to plan; to plot; to attempt (e.g. suicide, murder); to undertake (e.g. business); (arch.) to stand on tip-toes
achievements; actual results; accomplishments; past results; track record
rearing from infancy; training from an early age (e.g. an apprentice); teaching from an early stage (e.g. a subordinate)
to wag one's tail; to flatter; to butter up; to fawn (on)
begging; pestering; pleading; coaxing
custom; practice; convention; precedent
failure; collapse; breakdown; break-up; bankruptcy
to do exactly what one is told to do; to be subservient; to be easily controlled
subcontract; subcontractor (person or company)
to feel gloomy; to have doubts (e.g. about the future); to be at a loss (e.g. over what to do)
opening to the public; making available to the public; putting on display; exhibiting; showing (play, movie, etc.); holding (interview, etc.)
having no money; lack of money
to fall into (e.g. a hole); to fall into (chaos, depression, dilemma, illness, etc.); to fall into (a trap, etc.); to fall; to surrender
easy to deal with; easily manageable; tractable; malleable
to arrive (at one's destination); to reach; to come to a head; to reach a conclusion; to culminate (in)
self-deprecation; self-derision; self-mockery; laughing at oneself
sensation; feeling; tendency; propensity
flat; level; calm; tranquil; relaxed (sitting posture); comfortable
meticulous; careful; discreet; scrupulous; prudent
to walk about; to walk around; to conduct oneself; to turn up; to brawl (in a play, etc.)
effort; exertion; endeavour; endeavor; hard work; striving
childish; child-like; immature; infantile
mercy; compassion; clemency; Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo (Cuculus fugax); Horsfield's hawk cuckoo
together (of two people); both (of you, them, etc.)
to abuse (verbally); to curse at; to shout abuse at; to speak ill of
to kill by hitting; to beat to death; to slaughter