top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat
bright; intelligent; clever; smart
even so; all the same; nevertheless; yes, but ...
accomplishment; lessons (in an art, skill, etc.); practice
point; gist; essentials; knack; trick; the ropes
fingers; fingertips; underling; stooge; tool
exercise; physical training; appeal; campaign; motion; movement
primary school; elementary school; grade school
to train; to discipline; to teach manners
to put oneself in (situation, environment, etc.); to surround oneself with
by all means; at any cost; whether (one is) willing or not; willingly or unwillingly; on no account; by no means
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
extra; more; unnecessary; needless; all the more; even more
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
minimum; at the very least
variety; kind; type; counter for kinds, species, etc.
to abate; to decrease; to diminish; to shorten
starting line; starting point
indicate reason; infers some protest
part; portion; amount; worth (as in "two days' worth"); one's means; one's place; one's duty
lead; leading; lead (of a newspaper, etc.); lede; lead (wire); lead (e.g. dog); leash
now that; since; so long as; because
to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs); to flounder; to struggle (to escape an adverse situation); to strive
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
this; our; the ... in question; right; justice; fairness
respect; esteem; reverence; honour; honor
to be amazed; to be shocked; to be astonished; to be astounded; to be disgusted; to be exasperated
insistent; obstinate; persistent; too rich (taste, etc.); fatty; heavy
neighboring town; neighbouring town; adjacent town
leader of the pack (of a group of kids); neighborhood bully (neighbourhood)
across; over; beyond; throughout (a period of time); for
revenge; making a new attempt where one previously failed; determination of a loser to win the next time
to scheme; to plan; to play a trick; to invent; to conspire; to frame up
root (of a plant); stump (of a tree); root (of a problem, etc.); base
that sort of; that kind of; like that; such; so
tepid water; lukewarm water; comfortable; easy; relaxed
original intention; initial resolution
with a crunching or grinding sound; quickly; promptly; crispily; crunchily
having enough of (food, drink, etc.); having one's fill; fully enjoying
cartoon; comic; comic strip; manga
classical music; classic; classical; classic (work); the classics