to make it a principle to ...; to aim at doing
important post; important office; key position
being very busy; busyness
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest
patronizing; expecting gratitude in return; acting like one is doing someone a favor; condescending
letter of invitation; letter of recommendation; reference
to shake off; to throw off
guess; speculation; supposition
shallows; shoal; rapids; current; position; place
remarkably; markedly; rapidly; sound of breaking or creaking
to distinguish oneself; to stand out
to give one's name; to introduce oneself; to announce one's candidacy
no exception; without exception; always the same
to become famous; to make a name for oneself
lower part; substructure; subordinate (office); good and faithful servant
plain; simple; reserved (behaviour, attitude, etc.); modest; quite; a (little) bit
declaration of war; proclamation of war
chance; opportunity; lucky break
non-degree course for graduates
to threaten; to make threats
barefaced (e.g. lie); transparent; with feigned ignorance; pretending not to know; pure white; very clear
to one's heart's content; as much as one wants; as hard as one can; resolution; decisiveness; determination
to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to be tough on (e.g. one's body); to treat harshly
power; authority; influence
close aide (of a powerful person); close associate; entourage; attendant; retainer
several years standing; over several years
by-product; spin-off; outgrowth; side effect
physical education; PE; gym (class)
school with a high proportion of graduates accepted into high-ranking universities; school focused on preparing students to get into high-ranking universities; school with a high proportion of graduates who go on to university or junior college
coagulant; coagulating agent
bait; decoy; lure; easy prey; easy victim; sucker
welcome (news); inviting; encouraging; tempting; hopeful
willing (even) to do; prepared to do; ready to do; not mind doing
easy victory; walkover; easy peasy; child's play; cakewalk
formidable enemy; strong enemy; tough enemy
to be rested; to feel at ease; to repose; to be relieved
especially; particularly; surely; clearly; as if; as though
dangerous element; person who poses a high risk
to sell; to betray; to sell out (one's friend, country, etc.); to make (oneself) known; to establish (a reputation) for oneself; to pick (a fight, quarrel, etc.)
to write (a person) up (in a positive or negative light); to write something up so that it stands out; to write up in an exaggerated fashion; to detail; to list
one's habitual practice; usual measure; old trick
thoughtful; considerate; sensible; prudent; having good taste; discerning
to read smoothly; to skim
self-justification; excuse
to contract (to do); to undertake; to take on (work); (arch.) to take responsibility for; (arch.) to be liable for
to talk about someone behind their back; to backbite
well-known only to those in the know; well-known but to the few; well-known to a connoisseur