to read the situation; to sense the mood; to read the room
branch manager; manager of a branch office
(handling) fee; charge (e.g. for a cancellation); commission; brokerage
sneak photography; non-consensual photography; peeping photos; covert filming
the times; the world; society
premarital sexual relations
free love; sexual freedom; sexual openness; liberal attitude to sex; sexual emancipation
to inflict; to impose (a fine, etc.)
chicken; coward; scaredy-cat; chicken
boastful speech; bragging
bargain sale; selling cheaply; selling at a low price; giving out (too) readily; handing out freely; selling (oneself) short
to take off (another's clothes); to strip someone (of their clothes); to undress
to pin down; to knock down; to push (and hold) someone down (esp. with sexual connotations)
healthy; sound; wholesome
paper medium; print medium (as opposed to other media)
perhaps; possibly; maybe; by some chance
(outward) appearance; (proper) format (e.g. of an essay); form; appearances; decency; lip-service
public announcement; official notice; edict
18 certificate; R-18; restricted to those 18 years or older
ban (e.g. on smoking); prohibition
calm, cool, and collected; level and calm
candidate (for an election)
single combat; duel; one-on-one fight
unification; centralization; integration; drawing things together; working out a common policy; consolidation
major contender; strong (leading) candidate; front runner
calling by name; designation; nomination
after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years
associate; junior; assistant; second highest rank; second place
bulletin board; display board; notice board; electronic bulletin board; BBS
to stick; to paste; to stretch; to spread; to form (e.g. ice on a pond); to fill; to swell
seating plan (e.g. banquet); seating chart
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
tender; warm; meticulous; detailed; deep (of a colour); thick (e.g. fog)
superficial; shallow; frivolous; careless; sliding along a surface; being slippery
the right person in the right place
rational; logical; coherent
to be crowded with people; to be bustling with; to prosper; to flourish; to do thriving business
to put on airs; to assume importance; to be self-important; to be pretentious; to be pompous; to stand on one's dignity
beginning of the (fiscal) year