harsh (criticism, treatment, etc.); severe; hard; strict
choice; selection; diagnosis; medical opinion; judgement; opinion
originally; essentially; naturally; in the first place; to begin with
clever; smart; sharp (ear, etc.); sensitive; discerning
to invite; to ask; to beckon; to wave someone in; to call in; to send for
dignity; quality; grace; panache; level
to doubt; to distrust; to be suspicious of; to suspect
practical question (problem); practical matter
to be troubled; to have difficulty; to be bothered; to be inconvenienced; to be badly off; to be hard up
mountain; hill; mine (e.g. coal mine); heap; pile; crown (of a hat); thread (of a screw)
irritating; troublesome; gloomy (e.g. mood); depressing; heavy (weather); cloudy
to be at a loss for words
absolutely every little bit; everything from A to Z; systematically; thoroughly; one after another
to ascertain; to check; to make sure
administrative; businesslike; practical; impersonal; perfunctory; robot-like
numeral; figure; digit; numeric character
practical business; practical work experience; practicum; practice
awareness of the issues; (having a) critical mind; concerns
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
I'm sorry; my apologies; excuse me; pardon me
request; favour (to ask); wish; please
to flick out; to spring out; to calculate; to work out; to expel (from a group); to drive out
outsider; someone outside of a group
to turn; to rotate; to pass around; to send around; to move (someone or something to where its needed); to send; to turn (to a new use)
nevertheless; at any rate; even so; all things considered; be that as it may
skillful; skilled; proficient; flattery
almost; roughly; approximately
self-education; self-instruction; self-study
stagnation; deposit; sediment; faltering; hesitation; pause
future; possible; potential; prospective
cultivation; refinement; culture; education
serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
immersing oneself in; being absorbed in; devoting oneself to; giving oneself up entirely to
letter; missive; note; mail
reply (e.g. email, fax, letter); answer
to write (e.g. a letter); to draw up (a document); to take down (e.g. notes); to have (lunch, dinner, etc.); to eat
to ask a question; to ask questions
appearance; air; condition; state; form
to dress (oneself in); to attire oneself in; to adorn; to pretend; to feign; to affect