rank; ranking order; hierarchy
I'm sorry; (it's) inexcusable
festive mood; holiday mood; festive atmosphere
dirty work; unpleasant task
shorthanded; short of hands; undermanned; insufficient (stock, money, etc.); in short supply; low
meathead; muscle head; person who is obsessed with bodybuilding
just; justifiable; right; due; proper; equitable
thing that should be (carefully) avoided; no-no; thing to definitely not do; something forbidden; taboo
safety confirmation; confirming (something) is safe
lighting (a lamp); turning on a light
pilot light; spark; live coals (for firelighting)
(school) period; period or division of time; time limit
to insert; to include; to incorporate; to cut in (printing)
distribution channel; channel of distribution
dispersion; breakup; variance; dispersion
small number; few; minority
at this stage; at this point; now (contrasting with the past)
difficult to imagine; quite unlikely to; very doubtful; would not expect
viewing optimistically; thinking optimistically; taking an optimistic view; looking on the bright side
persistence; single-mindedness
to badger; to pester; to beg
direct talks; direct negotiations; talking to somebody in person
to yearn for (someone, something); to miss
to get; to obtain; to come by; to find
to cause casualties; to result in deaths
poor; pitiable; pathetic; pitiful
to recognize by sound (recognise); to identify by sound; to understand; to be reasonable
(kicking and) struggling; wriggling; floundering; to get into a panic; to make a fuss; to make a scene
innocent; blameless; guiltless
amusement (recreational) facilities
game of make-believe; child's play; pretend play
hooting; jeering; heckling
lacking potential for advancement; no-hoper
to make a fresh start; to turn over a new leaf; to call again; to visit again; to come again