parents' day (day when parents observe their children in school)
voluntary training; voluntary practice; free practice
far away; far off; far; long ago; long before
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
company secret; industrial secret; trade secret
not feeling like doing ...; having no mind to ...; being in no mood for ...; indifferent; half-hearted; dispirited
(not even) an inch; (not even) a little bit; (lit.) one millimeter
to swing; to sway; to shake; to waver; to feel shaken; to become unstable
shift the responsibility (for something) on to (someone); pass the buck
to overlook (a mistake, fault, etc.); to tolerate; to let pass; to give someone a break; to let someone off lightly; to be lenient
care; looking after; trouble; bother; good offices; recommendation
to whine; to make feeble complaints
so; accordingly; now; then; thereupon; therefore
bringing; taking; carrying
pretending not to see something; turning a blind eye to; burying one's head in the sand
to take a breath; to take a short rest
invitation; solicitation; canvassing; canvasing; inducement; persuasion
accompanied by a man; accompanied by men
opposite effect; adverse effect; backfiring
if only (you) have; as long as (you) have; whenever (you) have
very caring; kind; helpful; service-minded
not to mention ...; needless to say ...; not to speak of ...; (arch.) negligent; (arch.) neglectful; (arch.) careless
delineation; demarcation; drawing a line (e.g. between what's acceptable and unacceptable); (measuring) ruler
desk pad; sheet of plastic (or cardboard, felt, etc.) placed under writing paper; being pinned under; being caught under; model; pattern
keep ...-ing; have been ...-ing; leaving (something) on; leaving (something) still in use
preface; introduction; preamble
dining; dining room; meal
to doubt; to think (something is) doubtful; to wonder; to be suspicious
feeling keenly; fully realizing
stubbornness; obstinacy; disposition; nature; appetite; desire
skillful; skilful; adroit; clever; shrewd; ingenious
to do ... incessantly; to do ... hard; (arch.) to happen repeatedly; (arch.) to happen over and over again