nevertheless; at any rate; even so; all things considered; be that as it may
a long time (since the last time); first in a long time
smirkingly; broadly (grinning)
enjoyable; fun; pleasant; happy; delightful
(that's) no good, is it?; dislike (on social media, etc.); thumbs-down; downvote
tenacious; tough; enduring; dogged; headstrong; stubborn
natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder
to change into; to be transformed; to be transfigured; to transform; to alter; to convert
a little while later; for a little while; some time later; for some time; presently
deeply in love with; madly in love with; heads over heels in love with; to be crazy about
to stagnate; to be delayed; to be left undone; to be overdue (of a payment); to fall into arrears; to be outstanding
only natural; no wonder; as expected; of course; as it should be
to read the situation; to sense the mood
to run counter to; to go against; to disobey; to infringe
hoop (of a barrel, bucket, etc.)
to plan; to attempt; to plot; to conspire; to aim for; to strive for
capable person; talented person; human resources; personnel
disappointed love; broken heart; unrequited love; being lovelorn
cancellation; liquidation; resolution; reduction (e.g. of stress)
benefit; use; good; profit; gains
prior; beforehand; in advance; before the fact; ex ante
key; lock; key (to a problem); clue
to crush to death; to stifle to death; to squeeze to death; to stifle (a laugh, etc.); to muffle (one's breathing); to subdue (one's voice)
to tease; to make fun of; to ridicule; to mock; to play with (e.g. a toy); to fiddle with
to get information out of a person; to begin listening
to manufacture; to produce; to raise (crops); to invent; to dream up; to create
playing at (something); game of make-believe; something done together
existence or nonexistence; presence or absence; consent or refusal; yes or no
to get someone to say; to make someone say; to let someone say; to let someone speak out; to make a sound
haughty; arrogant; supercilious
arrogance; insolence; disrespect
head; brains; intellect; understanding
preeminence; excellence; superiority; transcendence
to reach; to amount to; to be up to the task; to come up to; to compare with; to be a match (for)
organization; organisation; structure; construction; system (e.g. railroad, transport, party, etc.); tissue; texture (of a rock)
to make; to produce; to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol); to raise; to grow; to till
now (when it is already much too late); at this stage; afresh; anew; again
treatment; service; handling (of a machine, tool, etc.); operation; treating as; treating like
duty; function; office; mission; task
to hinder; to obstruct; to disrupt; to interfere with; to cause a delay
to begin to appear; to begin to come in
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile