mouse; rat; dark gray; dark grey; slate (color, colour)
to start; to start up; to embark on; to get going; to commence
basic rate (i.e. excluding optional service fees, usage charges, etc.); basic charge; base cost; base price
to let (someone) swim; to make (someone) swim; to make (someone) stumble forward; to make stagger; to let (a suspect) roam freely (while monitoring them); to leave at large
administrative; businesslike; practical; impersonal; perfunctory; robot-like
human nature; human heart; public feeling; people's sentiments; consciousness; awareness
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
pressing one's hands together in prayer; triangular frame of a thatched roof; yours sincerely; yours truly
punctually; on time; as regularly as a clock
date of manufacture; day of manufacture
packed and sterilised food; retort pack
shading; shielding from light
to beat someone by ganging up on them
retort; sealed plastic pouch typically containing ready-made sauce or stew; boil-in-the-bag; retort; glass vessel used for distillation (now largely obs.)
to apply pressure (on); to bring pressure upon; to lean on
leaving to chance; leaving to fate
carefully made; carefully produced; quality product; product made with care
pot (esp. teapot, coffee-pot); vacuum bottle; thermos flask
to grow fat; to gain weight; to grow fertile; to be refined (palate); to be discerning (eye, ear); to become rich
pulse (edible seeds of various leguminous crops); plant yielding pulse
air conditioning; air cooling
cannot do without something; indispensable; absolutely necessary; have to do
three times (as much); treble; triple; threefold
to tease; to irritate; to tantalize; to keep (someone) in suspense
trial stage; experimental phase; prototype stage
deep dish; dish with a high rim; tureen
packing; packaging; face mask; face pack; puck
high-energy food (climbing, etc.); backpacking food; provisions; rations
thin rice porridge; watery cooked rice; rice gruel; congee