absent-mindedly; idly; vacantly; doing nothing
high-spirited; cheerful; assertive; vigorous
increasing the number of staff; hiring more people
one portion; one serving; adult; grown-up; fully fledged; established
using one's own judgement; making up one's own mind; judging for oneself
diligent application (to work or study); cultivating one's character by studying hard; mutual encouragement (to improve); working hard together; friendly rivalry
insular; closed; unsociable; exclusive
nothing to sneeze at; pretty impressive
moderate; reserved; conservative; humble; mild-mannered; self-effacing
with a glitter; with a sparkle; brand new; shiny and new
acquisition (esp. corporate); buy-out; takeover; bribery; buying off; corruption
drop-by-drop; dripping; dribbling; loosely (hanging); limply
previous work; preceding work; first crop grown in a double-cropped field; preceding crop
armoring; armouring; armor; armour
thick (esp. paper, cloth)
one-night stand; taking home a woman from a bar, club, etc.; takeout (i.e. food); take-out; takeaway
temporary; provisional; interim; special; extraordinary; extra
(necessary) personnel; required person
substance; essence; real (in economics, vs. nominal, e.g. real interest rate); substantive; substantial
ahead; before; the future
(artillery) barrage; bullet hell; curtain fire; barrage of scrolling comments (overlaid on an online video)
bowl; pot; flowerpot; crown; brainpan
nest; rookery; den; haunt; (spider's) web
admission; incorporation; enlistment; enrollment
to become angry or sullen; to take offense; to be miffed; to come unstuck from; to peel off; to come off
pipsqueak; little runt; midget; dwarf
to look down on; to treat with contempt; to treat disparagingly; to sneer at
humorous; funny; amusing; laughable; hilarious; comical
having many difficulties in store; grim prospects
to be confused; to be bewildered; to be taken aback
long ago; previous; of a former age
to acquire a position; to hold an appointment
noted family; noble family; prestigious school, organization, business, etc.
family; relatives; dependents; household
generation; the world; the age
thousands; several thousand
leading person; foremost figure
leading figure; influential figure; mogul