natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder
to understand; to make out
to succeed to someone's post; to take someone's place; to take over someone's position; to step into someone's shoes
to take (seat, position, course, office, etc.); to assume; to ascend (the throne); to accede; to start (on a journey); to commence
to disappear; to vanish; to go; to leave; to die
on the way; en route; in the middle of; midway; halfway
large; big; older; senior; final; ultimate
changing (job, career, lifestyle, social position, beliefs, etc.)
to be obsessive (about); to be overly concerned (with); to be particular (about); to pay special attention (to); to get stuck; to be obstructed
space; room; vacancy; opening; free time; time to spare
to compete; to contend; to vie; to contest
to be defeated; to be beaten; to be unsuccessful; to lose
the latter; the second; successor; descendant
scheming; planning; maneuvering; manoeuvring; plotting
otherwise; or else; if not
useless; vain; aimless; idle
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
suitable; proper; appropriate; perfunctory; half-minded; sloppy
to turn; to shift; to alter; to distract
request; favor; favour; reliance; dependence; trust
negative image (of something or someone); bad image; bad impression
engraving a seal; engraved seal; engraving; inscribing; brand (i.e. a mark of disgrace); stamp
to become thin; to fade; to grow pale
contents; content; substance; matter; detail; import
complete change; reform; restoration; remodeling; remodelling; renewal
in drops; dripping; gently (sloping); sluggishly; endlessly; leisurely
procurement; purchase; buying; school store; co-op; school canteen
greed; craving; desire; appetite; hunger; avarice
to excite; to incite; to stimulate; to arouse; to tempt; to stir up
co-op; (consumers') cooperative
to turn over; to turn (pages); to leaf through (a book, etc.); to tear off; to strip off; to take off
some; any; in any way; of some kind; of some sort
to pick up; to adopt (a proposal); to take up (a topic); to take issue with; to make a problem of; to report (news); to cover
lately; recently; these days
to quieten down; to fall silent; to cease activities; to become inactive; to lie low
to count on the abacus; to calculate cost-benefit; to calculate profitability; to be guided by self-interest
abdomen; abdominal region; belly; middle part
area of expertise; (one's) field; (one's) line
juniors dominating seniors; inferiors overthrowing their superiors; retainer supplanting his lord
to plan; to plot; to attempt (e.g. suicide, murder); to undertake (e.g. business); (arch.) to stand on tip-toes
mental health; mental hygiene
from the standpoint of; from the viewpoint of; on; above; the best; top
retaliation; revenge; reprisal; retorsion; retortion
to drive (someone) out by bullying them; to bully (someone) into leaving; to treat (someone) so badly that they leave
custom; general rule; convention; usually; generally; normally