underwater; behind closed doors; behind the scenes; below the surface
(preliminary) skirmish; prelude; preliminary encounter; warm-up match (e.g. before a final)
absorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)
older brother; elder brother; young man; buddy; fella
exclamation of surprised disappointment, disgust, or worry (yuck, ick, ack, eeew, crap!, blech, gross)
narrow; confined; small; limited; narrow-minded; confining
to be tied together; to be connected to; to lead to; to be related to; to be related (by blood)
reason; logic; sense; truth; right
to make someone's acquaintance; to become acquainted (with)
bravery; military prowess; valour; valor
to get down to business; to cut to the chase; to get straight to the point; to move on to the main subject
subtleties; niceties; fine points; subtle; sensitive
to leave one's seat; to temporarily excuse oneself (from a meeting, etc.); to step outside; to be away (from one's desk, etc.)
soundproofing; sound insulation
private talk; confidential talk; secret talk
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe and humor (humour)
shrewdness; sharpness; astuteness; acumen; tact
free; unrestricted; (with) complete mastery; completely in control
elementary school; primary school; school for children over eight years old in ancient China; traditional Chinese philology
identifiable; personalized
to be cut out for (e.g. a job); to be suited (to)
to be outdone (by); to be in inferior (to); to compare unfavorably (with); to be behind
brave woman; heroine; lady of character; Amazon
interception (email); wiretap; bug
to; for; from the standpoint of; as far as ... is concerned
to be noisy; to be astir; to rustle; to murmur
loose; lenient; lax; gentle (curve, slope, etc.); slow; weak; soft
inside and outside; interior and exterior; inside and outside the country; home and abroad; around; about
replacement; substitution; change; shunting (rail); switching
oscillation; vibration; swing (e.g. of a pendulum)
(practical) application; putting to practical use; applied
trickling (of water); flickering (of fire); darting about (e.g. a small animal); scampering about
large amount of money; great cost
to throw; to cast (e.g. vote, light, shadow); to devote oneself (e.g. to a cause); to invest; to put in; to administer (medicine); to give