faulty statement; misleading statement; misunderstanding caused by a misleading statement
(balance) scales; shoulder carrying pole; steelyard
meritocracy; merit system
effect; efficacy; validity; potency
in proportion to; according to; depending on
puzzling; tangled; complicated; complex
memory; ability to remember
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
doctrine; rule; principle; -ism
possibly; by some possibility; perhaps
to memorize; to memorise; to commit to memory; to learn by heart; to bear in mind; to remember
adhering to; being a stickler for; being particular about; worrying too much about
pus; corruption; rot; evils
to coax; to cajole; to wheedle; to roll up and put into (something); to bundle up
lip service; mere words; professions; lips; mouth; snout
inexcusable; unpardonable; can't be allowed to pass (without comment)
going against one's will; contrary to one's intentions; going against one's desire; going contrary to one's wishes
to start work (on); to undertake; to start committing a crime; embarkation; launch
mediocrity; the masses; ordinary run of men
to be caught; to be captured; to be taken prisoner; to be seized with (fear, etc.); to be a slave to; to stick to
lead nowhere; get one nowhere; no use; fruitless; there's no point (in doing)
don't feel like doing; can't bring oneself to do; can't face
stubborn person; bonehead; bullethead; pig-headed person
to be angry; to resent; to be enraged; to be indignant
buzzer; personal alarm (loud buzzer to attract attention in case of attack)
class (of students); group (of people); party; lot; bunch; crime family; organized-crime syndicate
sidelong glance; flirtatious glance
field of vision; view; one's outlook (e.g. on life); one's horizons
dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; (far) better; exceptional
vague; faint; dim; indistinct; hazy; blurry
to kindle; to build a fire; to instigate; to stir up; to incite
immediately; as soon as possible; as quickly as possible
dreary; bleak; monotonous; tasteless; unrefined
twelfth day of the month; twelve days
natural; reasonable; understandable
to pull a wry face; to screw one's face up; to pucker one's face; to scowl; to grimace; to frown
ominous; sinister; (arch.) annoying; (arch.) appearing to be true; (arch.) plausible
every person; every mouth; every entrance
hard; tough; hardware; hard disk
day after tomorrow; wrong (e.g. direction)
hair-raising; bloodcurdling; horrible; shocking; gruesome