plunking (down something heavy); flumping (into a chair)
absence; disregard; indifference
steering; helmsman; coxswain; guidance; leadership; leader
to manage (all by oneself); to control; to run; to take charge of
urgent; requiring quick (response)
priority; order of precedence
extended leave; long vacation
homecoming; returning home
with a feeling of relief; with a sigh of relief; deeply (sigh)
new; neo-; newness; novelty; Gregorian calendar; Xin dynasty (China, 9-23 CE)
closing; closure; shutdown; lockout
consideration; concern; attention; thoughtfulness; making arrangements; care
to disappear (of people or animals); to go (away); to leave; to no longer exist
to teach; to take a teaching job
on countless occasions; many a time
well; properly; best regards; please remember me; just like ...; as though one were ...
to choose the best; to select carefully; to handpick
to clear up; to clear away; to refresh (e.g. spirits); to be cleared (e.g. of a suspicion); to be dispelled; to be banished
(talent) scout; recruiter; scouting; headhunting; Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts
infancy; childhood; tender age
private tutor; coach; governess
having strings attached (of a loan, etc.); having conditions attached; having a string or cord attached (of a bag, clothing, etc.); something with a string attached; having a lover (of a woman); woman with a male lover
weir; bonds; fetters; ties of obligation
to put on (lower-body clothing, e.g. pants, skirt, footwear); to wear; to affix (a sword to one's hip); (arch.) to affix (a bowstring to a bow)
speculatively buying a rice harvest, while the fields are still green; recruiting of university students before the agreed date
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
kindness; favor; favour; goodwill; affection; liking (for someone)
rubbing one's hands together
to draw close to; to edge up to; to snuggle up to; to nestle close to; to cuddle with; to draw closer to
general; admiral; head; chief; old chap; mate
strife; riot; (media) uproar; brouhaha; feud; tussle
easy; trifling; harmless; nothing of the sort; not at all
considerable; great; important; significant; a big deal
previously; already; beforehand; in advance; for some time
pending question; unresolved problem
subject; theme; homework; assignment; task; challenge
not worth considering; out of the question
shortage of talented people; shortfall in human resources
with; by; because of; on account of; on (a day, date); at (a time); adds emphasis to preceding word
attempt; trial; experiment; endeavour (endeavor); effort; venture
impact (on); (strong) impression; effect; impact (of a ball against a racket, bat, club, etc.)
nonexistent; not being (there); not having; not
to fall behind; to drop out; to drop; to fall; to spill