by all means; at any cost; whether (one is) willing or not; willingly or unwillingly; on no account; by no means
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
floral pattern; flourish; ornament; star (actor, player, etc.)
large quantity; massive (quantity); mass (e.g. mass production, mass transit, mass destruction)
wide difference; a world of difference
old tale; folk tale; legend; reminiscence
to discover; to find (e.g. an error in a book); to locate; to find (e.g. something missing); to be used to seeing; to be familiar with
competing; competition; auction
work; business; company; study
violation; offense; offence; breach; transgression; infringement
usual; ordinary; normal; regular; general; common
joining a company; getting a job with a company; entering a company
hour; o'clock; (specified) time; when ...; during ...
book; document; calligraphy (esp. Chinese); penmanship; handwriting; letter
to exchange (messages, greetings, arguments, etc.); to intersect; to cross; ... with one another; ... to each other
(written) contract; agreement
to notice; to recognize; to recognise; to become aware of; to perceive; to realize
secrecy; highly classified information
disadvantage; handicap; drawback; inadvisability; inexpediency; loss
other companies in the same business; rival firms
to recognize; to recognise; to deem; to judge; to approve; to deem acceptable; to admit
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
trial; judgement; judgment
firm; strong; unbending; unyielding; uncompromising; stubborn
posture; pose; position; attitude; approach; stance
to be different from what was previously said; to be different from what was promised
how much; something over; and something; however (much); no matter how
just because; even if; even though
matter for the court; (ending up as a) lawsuit; legal tussle; court fight
to keep within limits (e.g. spending); to restrain (e.g. emotions); to control; to hold back (e.g. an enemy); to check; to curb
trouble; bother; trouble; difficulty; care; attention
superstition; acting superstitiously (for good luck)
the other day; lately; recently; meanwhile; in the meantime
way (of doing); manner; method; means
well done!; good job!; good work!; you did it!; bravo!
loss (of assets, profit, etc.)
to put on (one's head); to wear; to be covered with (dust, snow, etc.); to pour (water, etc.) on oneself; to bear (e.g. someone's debts, faults, etc.); to take (blame); to overlap (e.g. sound or color)
intention; plan; belief; assumption; estimate; estimation
administrative ability; managerial ability; ability to manage; administrative capacity
to ask; to inquire; to blame (someone) for; to accuse of; to care about; to regard as important