to go against; to fight against; to oppose; to resist; to deny
graded on N steps; scored out of N
height; acme; extremity; end; limit
reproachful; resentful; spiteful
term of office; tenure; incumbency
flawless; absolute perfection
to become good-looking; to start looking appropriate (for something)
pretending not to know; pretending not to recognize someone (recognise); feigning ignorance; playing innocent
with a pitter-patter; choked up (with emotion); heart-wringing; momentary tightening of one's chest caused by powerful feelings (e.g. parting with a loved one)
close associate; close aide; brains-truster
romance; love story; love affair; romantic relationship; romance
to rummage through; to ransack (e.g. a drawer); to throw into confusion; to disrupt; to upset
non career (i.e. civil servants not on track for high-ranking positions)
sticking; clinging; with a smack (e.g. sitting down); hard; all over; thickly
following (e.g. someone's opinion); being servile to; adherence; compliance; emulation; mimicking
more than one can possibly use; countless (e.g. examples); (money) to burn; rolling in (cash)
to banter; to make fun of; to cool; to refrigerate; to window-shop; to look at without buying
accountant; accounting clerk; cashier; treasurer
hut (esp. on a mountain); shack; refuge; shanty
one's family (home) background (environment)
being dotted with; being scattered
to be sticky; to be close together
to take (someone) to one place after another (forcibly); to drag (someone) around
to be lacking in options; to be too few
to become used to the (ways of the) world; to become worldly or sophisticated
(approximate) age; years; elderly; old; older (than); senior
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
it's OK to ...; it's best to ...; it's alright to ...
to hide; to keep to oneself
to proceed with things; to carry out; to do