to get down to business; to cut to the chase; to get straight to the point; to move on to the main subject
ear; hearing; edge; crust; selvedge (non-fray machined edge of fabrics); selvage
underwear; undergarment; underclothes; lingerie
easy; simple; simple (way of thinking, etc.); simple-minded; soft; lax
serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
business; thing to be done; something that should be performed; information that should be conveyed
tone of voice; mimicry; imitative voice
joke; playfulness; kidding around
mode (musical mode, mode of probability distribution, state of physical system); fashion
cancellation; rescinding; release; calling off; lifting (sanctions); delisting
basis; foundation; grounds; authority
the other day; a few days ago
opportunity; chance; folding; fold; small food box (wooden or cardboard); folding in ... (two, three, etc.); counter for folded items
dealing with; coping with
to stick through; to force through; to spread throughout; to thoroughly diffuse; to make a path between two points; to proceed in a logical manner; to let pass
unexpected; unscheduled; unforeseen; unplanned
adult; grown-up; person who has come of age; fully fledged; established; qualified
to speak; to talk; to mediate; to act as a go-between; to put in a good word (for someone)
to be taught; to learn; to take lessons in
to flatter; to soft-soap; to sweet talk; to cajole; to instigate
gaining nothing by; getting nowhere by
beyond expectations; beyond what one expected; not foreseen; exceeding assumptions
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
overwhelming victory; crushing victory; sweeping victory; landslide victory
to end without incident; to not turn into something serious
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest
incitement; sedition; agitation; abetting
I fear that it's likely that; with all due respect
friction; discord; trouble; dissension; disagreement
to produce; to yield; to cause; to result from; to arise; to be generated
so; therefore; for that reason; if so; if that is the case; in that case
pot; jar; dice cup; depression; basin (e.g. of a waterfall); aim; what one wants
details; particulars; detailed; specific; close-up view (of a digitally displayed map); zoomed-in view
to nod one's head; to nod yes; to agree
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study
equipment; device; installation; stage setting
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy