a few years ago; some years back
top notch; first rate; top-of-the-line; leading
court lady (Heian period); lady-in-waiting; separate room in a palace (esp. for a lady; Heian period); (arch.) room for a very low class prostitute; (arch.) very low class prostitute
idly; lazily; aimlessly; evasively; elusively; vaguely
hard to figure out; elusive; slippery; vague; subtle
negotiations; bargaining; discussions; connection; relationship; relations
art; technique; means; way; stratagem; artifice
using freely; making full use of; having a good command of; working (someone) hard; driving (someone) on
cunning (acquired with age); astute; crafty; sly; wily
point of view; viewpoint; standpoint; perspective; angle
projection; protrusion; rupture (e.g. of gas); jetting out; prominence; standing out
opinion; view; comment; scolding; reprimand; rebuke
achievement; feat; distinguished service; meritorious deed
to excel; to surpass; to exceed; to outweigh; to preponderate
subtracting points; deducting points; points deducted
to overlook (a mistake, fault, etc.); to tolerate; to let pass; to give someone a break; to let someone off lightly; to be lenient
desire; want; will; wish; urge; craving
to satisfy (conditions, one's appetite, etc.); to meet (e.g. demands); to fulfill; to fill (e.g. a cup); to pack; to supply
skip it; drop it; I've had enough (e.g. when offered something); that's enough
to grumble; to gripe; to complain
main topic; main subject; main issue; this subject
newcomer; new figure; new member; modern humans (from Cro-Magnon man onwards); Homo sapiens
before very long; soon; someday; of the previously mentioned; of that number; among them
to throw; to hurl; to give up; to abandon; to cast (a glance, shadow, doubt, etc.)
to send; to forward; to hand over (e.g. money); indicates that the action is directed towards the speaker; indicates that the object of an action arrives at or is received by the speaker
although I say; although one might say; although called
area of expertise; (one's) field; (one's) line
probe; inquiry; enquiry; investigation
investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
manufacturing; processing; treatment; machining
gaining total control (of people or counties); suppression; oppression; control; mastery; ascendancy
satisfaction; pride; one's strong point; one's forte; regular customer; regular client
to make matters worse; besides; what's more; in addition; on top of that
disposition; inclination; characteristic; sexual disposition; fetish
to become widely known; to become well-known; to spread (of a rumor, reputation, etc.)
to approach; to draw near
practice; practising; training; study
item; heading; category; headword (in a dictionary, encyclopedia, etc.); entry
after a short while; not long after; soon; before long; shortly thereafter
as stated; verbatim; literally
assignment (of a person to somewhere); attachment (of a person to another unit, organization, etc.)
taciturn; reticent; quiet; silent; untalkative
socializing; getting on with people; personal relations