just because; even if; even though
interview (e.g. for a job)
(stroke of) luck; (unexpected) good fortune; godsend; windfall
assignment (of a person to somewhere); attachment (of a person to another unit, organization, etc.)
to be at one's wits' end; to be cornered; to be in a fix; to be in a desperate situation; to be in a pinch; to be in a predicament
job vacancy information; recruitment information
to be in the news; to be talked about; to become a popular topic of conversation; to become the talk of the town; to become topical
adds light emphasis or insistence to a statement; gives a statement a threatening or condescending tone
back (of a chair); backrest
death march; death march (in software development); crunch
impossible; unthinkable; unbelievable; ridiculous
flexible-hours system; flextime; flexitime; flex (in a golf shaft)
fixed time; regular time; scheduled time; fixed period; scheduled period
person in charge; senior staff; manager; chief; head
to correct oneself; to restate
massage (esp. anma, a traditional form of Japanese massage); masseur; masseuse; (arch.) blind person
waste; scrap; garbage; scum; piece of trash; loser
(personnel) change; transfer; relocation; reassignment; reshuffle
depressing; dark (e.g. story); grim (e.g. expression); irritating; annoying; tedious (work, person, etc.)
patience; endurance; perseverance
to grow older (than expected); to advance in age
middle-aged spread; weight put on in middle age
baldness; bald head; bald person; baldy; idiot; moron
to scatter around; to leave untidy; to make a mess
languid; weary; listless; melancholy
to drink up; to drink to the last drop; to drink (a glass) dry; to drain (one's glass); to empty; to down (a drink)
source of electricity; electrical power; power (button on TV, etc.)
both sides (on the left and right); both neighbours
vacant room; vacancy; unoccupied room; empty room
to hire; to lease; to requisition; to charter
company housing; housing provided by one's company
speaking voice; talking voice
forbidding mentioning (something to others); imposing silence (on); ordering (someone) to keep quiet; hush money
experience; history; record; career
thorough; exhaustive; complete
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that
to have one's heart stop beating; to be shocked; to be staggered
time passes; the days and months go by; the months roll on