suspicious-looking; fishy
lifeboat; friend in need; helping hand; timely help
to accustom; to train (e.g. one's ear); to tame; to domesticate; to train (an animal)
to understand; to be convinced; to be satisfied
treasuring; cherishing; prizing; holding dear
to be possible (in terms of time, money, etc.); to be able (to do); to fit (schedule, budget)
to use tact; to exercise discretion; to be tactful; to be thoughtful; to have the sense (to do); to take a hint
to attend on; to wait on; to accompany; to escort; to chaperone
in preparation; (shop) not yet open for business
to begin talking; to open up
just (now); quite (near); unintentionally; subconsciously
sacrifice sale; selling at a loss; dumping; clearance sale
slump; crash; heavy fall; sudden decline
small and medium-scale; small or mid-scale
upright; honest; faithful; conscientious; sincere
all the time; every single time; thank you (for your continued patronage)
to deceive with smooth talk; to wheedle; to give someone a snow job
adjustment; tweaking; improvement; modification; tinkering; minor alteration
raising the curtain; opening (of an event); start; beginning
comparatively; relatively; fairly; considering ...; for ...; despite ...
setting up specially; special installation
competing; competition; auction
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
lifting a ban; raising an embargo; opening a season (hunting, fishing, etc.); publishing contents; revealing information
majority; more than half; most (of); mostly; largely; mainly
participant; entrant; player; competitor
unfit; unsuitable; unmarketable
independent; autonomous; voluntary; of one's own initiative
star (usu. excluding the Sun); planet (usu. excluding Earth); star (glyph, symbol, shape); asterisk; star (actor, player, etc.); dot; spot
to have one's horizons broadened
to hit each other; to exchange blows; to fight
frequency; number of times; incidence; degree (e.g. temperature); strength (e.g. alcohol, lens, etc.)