to pass (of time); to elapse
to say a word; to say something; to speak briefly; to give a quick holler; to let (someone) know
to make merry; to frolic; to be in high spirits
preparation; arrangements
battle; fight; fighting; engagement; contest
staff officer; military staff; adviser; counselor; counsellor
noisy; loud; much talked of; much-discussed; strict; severe
hick; country bumpkin; yokel
to return to normal; to revert to the starting point; to go back to how it was
important matter; matter of great importance; serious affair; major incident; emergency
what; what sort of thing; everything; anything; what (on earth)?; what's the meaning of this ...?
tomfoolery; foolish act; nonsense; fool; idiot
retainer; retinue; servant
thigh; buttocks; arse; ass
gazing at; staring at fixedly; eyeballing; glaring; giving a hard look
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; nuisance; bore; burden
exhilarating; thrilling; intensely pleasurable
stamina; endurance; physical strength; strength of an organization (e.g. profitability, productivity, economic clout, stability, growth potential)
to shave (wood, leather, etc.); to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.); to curtail; to delete; to erase
to weaken; to grow weak; to be downcast; to be dejected; to be troubled; to be at a loss
clique; group; (political) faction; wing; school; sect
butter from cow's milk; storax (resin); styrax; toad venom
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict
to learn by experience; to learn one's lesson; to learn the hard way; to be discouraged (by); to have enough (of); to be disgusted (with)
contest of strength; trial of strength
backhand blow; backhand chop; backfist (karate)
reliable; trustworthy; hopeful; promising
to come out; to fall out; to fade; to discolour; to wear a hole (e.g. clothes); to leave (e.g. a meeting); to be clear
I, myself; one-self; by one-self; even I; even one
to accompany; to go hand in hand with; to be consequent upon; to be accompanied by; to bring with; to take with
top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat
to set up (in high position); to kick upstairs; to hold sacred; to worship
common occurrence; everyday occurrence; not an uncommon case; normal thing; everyday affair
heavy; weighty; heavy (feeling, atmosphere, etc.); serious; gloomy
plating (chrome, gold, silver, etc.); coating; gilding; pretense; pretence; simulation
to tear off; to peel off; to rip off; to strip off; to skin; to flay
to stick through; to force through; to spread throughout; to thoroughly diffuse; to make a path between two points; to proceed in a logical manner; to let pass
how much; how many; however (much); no matter how; what matters is ...; it all comes down to ...