preface; introduction; preamble
to get to the main subject; to move on to the main topic; to get down to business
possibly; by some possibility; perhaps
freighter (vessel); cargo ship
injustice; unfairness; wrongdoing; iniquity; impropriety; irregularity
outlining (e.g. font); hollowing out; getting rid of the middleman; dealing directly; skinning the cat (gymnastics); passing business to a subcontractor and collecting a kickback
quick on the uptake; quick to catch on; perceptive; intuitive
participation; taking part in; participating in; being concerned in
to search for; to look for; to hunt for; to search (a house, pocket, etc.); to search through; to rummage in (e.g. a drawer)
to pin down; to hold down; to cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand); to clutch (a body part in pain); to get a hold of; to obtain; to grasp (a point)
safety; security; safely; without incident; good health; inaction
guess; conjecture; surmise
consultation; question; enquiry; inquiry
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
breach of trust; malfeasance; malpractice; misappropriation
severe punishment; rigorous measures
(a person's) appearance from behind; person as seen from behind; back view; retreating figure
with a twitch (e.g. an eyebrow); with a dip; with a bob; with a flutter
unexpressed; unspoken; implied; implicit
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
hit; success; guess; prediction; affability; friendliness; sensation
to be lucky; to be in luck; to be attached; to have; to be included
security; stability; safety; peace
to follow; to come after; to come next (to); to rank next (to); to rank second (to)
movement (of one's body); moving about; stirring; acting freely; doing as one pleases
meaning; point (e.g. of a statement); gist; goal; intent; object
to stuff one's cheeks; to fill one's mouth (with food)
stifled (laughter); simmering
to grow up; to become an adult; to become big; to grow in size
sincerely; earnestly; wholeheartedly; repeatedly; over and over; again and again
confidentially; privately; off the record
to give a warning; to remind (a person) of; (lit.) to drive in a nail
without hesitation; with great optimism; (pushing or pulling) strongly; (drinking) heavily
quickly; promptly; immediately; indifferently; coldly
rational; reasonable; logical
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it; I mean
being bad at communication; being unsociable
(home) tutor; private tutor; private teacher
(the) whole; as a whole; in general; at large
to contract (to do); to undertake; to take on (work); (arch.) to take responsibility for; (arch.) to be liable for
intimate; carefree; familiar; friendly
field; sphere; realm; division; branch
Sparta (ancient Greek city-state); hard education; hard training; strict; severe
to train; to teach; to acquire (information); to learn; to stock; to stock up on