although at this late hour; now, although it is too late; afresh; anew; again
to exceed the budget; to overrun the budget; to have a deficit; to have a secret revealed
nothing special; no big deal; doesn't matter; nothing to worry about
to become defiant; to fight back; to turn upon; to take the offensive
to dry (clothes, etc.); to desiccate
laptop (computer); notebook (computer)
vacantly; blankly; openmouthed; with one's mouth wide-open; with a whack; with a thump
banknote; bill; note; paper money
north; the North; northern territories; North Korea; (arch.) north wind
to be broken; to break; to fall through; to come to nothing
open; frank; outspoken; unreserved; straightforward; honest
injury; wound; mistake; accident; loss
to tear; to rip; to break through (cordon, opponent's defense, etc.); to breach; to defeat; to beat; to break (e.g. silence)
opponent; rival; adversary; menace; danger; threat
tail (animal); tail end; tip
to have something on one's mind; to have (undisclosed) reservations; to feel conflicted
to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
dropping in on the way; stopping off at; making a side trip; going the long way round; making a detour
to frown (on); to be grim-faced; to look sullen
to be stingy (with); to skimp (on)
nagging; faultfinding; carping; captious
first; firstly; first of all; Introduction; Preface
apartment building; apartment block; apartment house; apartment
master (of a house, shop, etc.); husband; sir; boss; patron of a mistress, geisha, bar or nightclub hostess; sugar daddy
elementary school; primary school; school for children over eight years old in ancient China; traditional Chinese philology
pupil in ... year; student in ... year
boy; son; baby boy; young man
around 40 (years of age, esp. women)
to ward off (e.g. an attack); to fend off (e.g. a question); to elude; to evade; to dodge; to turn aside (e.g. a joke)
dinner party; ceremonial dinner; dinner meeting (or lunch, breakfast)
mild; calm; gentle; quiet; congenial; amicable
topic; subject; much talked about; topical; in the news
wholly; solely; entirely; principally; mostly; chiefly