inner palace (reserved for women); harem; seraglio; consort of the emperor
brutal (atmosphere, society, etc.); savage; fierce; violent; bloodthirsty; stark
to stagnate; to settle (at the bottom); to deposit; to become sluggish; to become dull; to be delayed
darkish; dusky; dark; murky
apt to do; liable to do; tend to do; prone to do
minor; small; minor (key, scale, etc.); the minor leagues (US baseball)
world situation; world affairs
money loser; high-cost, low-return project
in all ages; over the ages; forever and ever
resentment; grudge; pent-up anger; frustration; bitterness
pent-up resentment; grudges and hard feelings
to wave a flag; to show the way
change; transformation; reform; revolution; revolutionizing; innovation
initiator; instigator; flagman; leader
(corporate) restructuring; downsizing; laying off (workers)
senior manager; director; person below the department head with responsibility for a particular area
director; executive; officer; official; person in charge
to take the blame; (lit.) to cover oneself in mud
dirty; underhand; immoral; illegal
whitewashing; glossing over; lip service; (arch.) deftly finishing up; (arch.) putting on the final touches
backward country; underdeveloped country; developing country
not yet fixed; undecided; pending; TBD
unskilled labor; simple labor; menial job
to fire (from a job); to sack; to dismiss
reshuffling; job rotation
delivery; issuance; handing over; granting
to depend on someone for food and lodging; to be treated coldly; to be kept in a low position
change of heart; change of mind; change in mental state
changing one's attitude; turning over a new leaf; getting a fresh start
cruel; brutal; ruthless; merciless; inhuman
slightly (blushing); suddenly (getting bright, flaring up, flashing on, etc.); suddenly (appearing, coming out, etc.); distractedly; absentmindedly
large number; innumerable; great many; immense; vast; abundant
bullying (the weak); bully
waist (the part of the pants located above the crotch); pant rise