trade; business; commerce; occupation; calling; profession
basics; fundamentals; basis; foundation
excuse me; pardon me; I'm sorry; thank you
to read the situation; to sense the mood
to get down to business; to cut to the chase; to get straight to the point; to move on to the main subject
supposing; even if; granting that; temporarily; provisionally; for the time being
question; inquiry; enquiry
root of an evil; source of a problem; source of trouble; cause of misfortune
at the very beginning of one's speech; the first thing (one) says after opening the mouth
regular customer; regular patron; frequenter; constant companion
to become public; to become known; to come out in the open; to be formal; to be official
pure white; blank (e.g. mind, paper)
poverty; penury; need; shortage; lack; want
subordination; dependency
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
to destroy; to overthrow; to wreck; to ruin
a thorn in one's side; a pain in the butt (often someone higher in rank, ability, etc.); a person standing in one's way; a superior who obstructs one's freedom of action
to go smoothly; to turn out well; to do the trick; to have peaceful relations
one's own judgement (judgment); decision made without consulting others; arbitrary decision; dogmatism
absurd; nonsensical; preposterous
to set one's mind on doing; to get the idea of doing; to make up one's mind
prudent; thoughtful; discreet
indecisive; irresolute; shilly-shally; vacillating
to become known; to come to light; to be known; to be understood; to clearly not amount to much; to be insignificant
(something having its) merits and demerits; advantages and disadvantages; good points and shortcomings
class; heading; group; category
to attend on; to wait on; to accompany; to escort; to chaperone
military affairs; military people
compassionate; sympathetic
associate; junior; assistant; runner-up
to commit (e.g. crime); to perpetrate; to break (e.g. rule); to violate; to rape; to violate
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
and yet; though; when; in spite of
carefree; free from worry
maliciousness; ill will; noxious gas; (arch.) (vengeful) ghost; (arch.) specter
passage (of time); elapsing; progress; development; transit
to sleep (lying down); to go to bed; to lie in bed; to lie down; to sleep (with someone, i.e. have intercourse); to lie flat (e.g. of hair); to lie idle (of funds, stock, etc.)
advice; counsel; suggestion; tip; hint
bureaucrat; government official; bureaucracy
connection; link; relationship