setting the table; laying the table; setting up; getting one's ducks in a row; running interference
older brother and younger sister
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
to incline one's head to the side (in doubt); to tilt one's head to the side (in confusion); to be puzzled
to say previously unspoken thoughts; to start saying; to court someone
hundredfold; hundred times as much; much more (than previously)
extraordinary; preposterous; outrageous; absurd
lifetime; one's whole life; all through life
disadvantage; handicap; unfavorable position
as one wishes; the way one wants; to one's satisfaction
devastating; catastrophic; crushing
clever; shrewd; crafty; cunning; pretentious; impertinent
half in doubt; half-convinced; dubious; incredulous
speaking without thinking; words spoken without much thought
to use (public property) for personal purposes; to use (e.g. politics) for one's own ends; to misappropriate (public money); (arch.) to act selfishly
standing on tiptoe and stretching one's back to make oneself taller; stretching oneself; overreaching oneself; overstretching oneself; trying to do something beyond one's ability
unremitting effort; dogged perseverance; unswerving loyalty
deferment (e.g. of savings); leaving (a thing) as it stands; unredeemed; unredeemable; irredeemable
irregular; indeterminate; tramp (steamer)
to look at again; to re-examine (policy, estimate, plan, etc.); to review; to get a better opinion of; to see in a more positive light; to improve
counter for suits of clothing; arriving at ...
reestablish; reset (a password)
to be contrary to; to be inconsistent with; to act contrary to (rules or guidelines); to violate; to oppose; to rebel
class system; caste system; hierarchical system
healthy; robust; strong; solid; durable
provision; supply; payment; allowance; grant
management of an organization; organizational management; organizational operation
to spend all of one's free time; to spend one's time without constraint
superior; first-class; excellent; (that's) just fine!; bring it on!
sense of fulfillment; sense of completeness; sense of accomplishment; sense of contentment
almost every day; almost daily
suffocation; choking; asphyxia
excessive fishing; overfishing; overhunting; excessive taking
to take a long hard look at; to look (someone) full in the face
harsh (criticism, treatment, etc.); severe; hard; strict
superior; boss; them (as opposed to "us"); person above; upstairs neighbour (neighbor)
nagging; faultfinding; carping; captious