incompetent; have no merit
to stimulate; to stir up; to arouse
overly serious; serious to a fault; humorless
quick on the uptake; quick to catch on; perceptive; intuitive
to have a reason; to have an excuse
simple; plain; uncomplicated; straightforward; simple-minded; naive
how should I put it?; what shall I say?; well, you know; like
deeply; keenly; severely; intently; carefully; closely
to be put in order; to be put to rights; to be disposed of; to be solved; to be finished; to be married (off)
to begin; to set about; to start
to be jealous of; to be envious of; to envy
to eagerly look forward to
cooperation; collaboration
to be honest; to be frank; honestly; if you want to know the truth
decision; determination; resolution
tightness (of money, financial conditions, etc.); pressure; stringency; being strained (of a situation); being tense; being pressing
shriek of delight; cry of joy
wearing nothing but an apron; being nude except for an apron
welcome (news); inviting; encouraging; tempting; hopeful
border; boundary; turning point; watershed; area; region
outlet (store that sells seconds, discontinued lines, etc.); electrical outlet
head-hunting; recruiting professionals from other companies
number two; mistress; concubine
to become numb; to go to sleep (e.g. a limb); to get an electric shock; to tingle (from an electric shock); to be excited; to be titillated
echo; reverberation; sound (esp. the distinctive sound of an object or activity, e.g. rain, gun, gallop, drum); noise; quality of a sound (e.g. a fine phrase, clear voice, resonant bell); feeling of a sound
staff; stuff; stuffing; filling
choice; selection; pickup (phonograph); stylus bar; pickup truck; pickup
in one go; in one gulp; in one breath; immediately; instantly; right away
spirit; heart; disposition
system; organization; organisation; imperial command; laws; regulation
task; (doing a) bit of work; difficult task; hard work
a long time (since the last time); first in a long time
optimist; easy-going person
at any rate; in any case; at the very least; if nothing else
splish-splash; with a splash
interruption (e.g. of a conversation)
don't worry about it; it's nothing; don't give it a thought
villain; baddie; the villain's part
to prepare; to provide; to set up; to establish; to organize