standard; basis; criterion; norm; reference; datum
dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; (far) better; exceptional
severe; strict; hard (to do); difficult; intense (e.g. cold); harsh (weather)
comparatively; relatively
aging; wearing out; deterioration
cruel; heartless; violent; intense; very bad; terrible
(for something) to have occurred; to have done (something); (for something) to happen on occasion
school rules; school regulations
violation; offense; offence; breach; transgression; infringement
how; in what way; why; for what reason; cannot possibly; no way
civic guidance; non-curricular educational guidance; medical guidance
(not) anything; (nothing) at all; and everything else; and all; (not) at all; (not) in the least
don't you think?; indicates question
it is ... that ...; precisely; although; while; it is precisely because ... that ...; only because ...
to manage something successfully; to be successful
the other day; lately; recently; meanwhile; in the meantime
proposal; proposition; suggestion
failure; mistake; blunder
to show off; to make a display (e.g. of wealth)
to perform; to do; to conduct oneself; to carry out
to put to use; to make good use of; to exploit
not less than; ... and over; beyond (e.g. one's expectations); above; above-mentioned; aforementioned
someone (unspecified, but someone in particular); a certain person
point; tip; head (of a line); front; first; before; (the way) ahead
examination; quiz; test; tryout; rehearsal (in filming)
result; consequence; coming to fruition; bearing fruit; as a result; consequently
but; however; (and) yet; nevertheless; still; for all that
average; mean; balance; equilibrium
to fall below (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to be less than; to be lower than; to fall just short of; to be just under
to finish; to stop; to close (a business, etc.); to close down; to put away; to put back
home-schooling; studying at home
method; process; manner; way; means; technique
to collect; to put (it all) together; to summarize; to aggregate; to bring to a conclusion; to finalize
good; OK; all right; fine; very well; will do
to put to use; to make use of; to turn to account