form (as opposed to substance); format; form; formality; form; mode
this spring; spring this year
it hasn't been long since
tone (of argument); tenor; drift
good person; virtuous person; good-natured person; gullible person
public opinion; popular voice; public sentiment; consensus
to incline toward; to slant; to go down (sun, moon); to sink; to decline; to wane
ulterior motive; plot; scheme; complicated circumstances; intricacies
(good) result; outcome; fruits (of one's labors); product; accomplishment
information bureau; intelligence department
management; (executive) staff; leaders; leadership; top brass; upper echelons
treatment; reception; service; working conditions; salary; pay
sudden rise; steep climb; trending
(talent) scout; recruiter; scouting; headhunting; Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts
like-mindedness; (being of the) same mind; shared sentiment; comrade; fellow; kindred soul
to confute; to argue down; to persuade; to convince; to prevail on
anti-; antithesis; fanqie; traditional Chinese spelling system in which two characters are used: the first one for the onset, the second one for rhyme and tone
will; desire; eagerness; interest; drive; motivation
publicity (information) activities; public relations
good; goodness; right; virtue
looking like a ...; acting as if a ...
gaudy; showy; garish; crooked; vicious; wicked
withdrawal (e.g. from an organization); secession; leaving; pulling out
to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
to withdraw from a society; to quit an association; to give up one's membership of a society
to have the privilege of doing
graduations (on a ruler, thermometer, etc.); gradations; division; scale
intestines; bowels; entrails; guts; placenta (of a pumpkin, melon, etc.); fibrous pulp
to assume an air of ...; to act ...; to affect ...; to put on airs; to be self-important
wind direction; situation; way things are going; mood; temper
given the situation; now that it has come to this; if it comes to this
implication; hidden meaning; latitude; atmosphere; tone; sentiment
occupation; taking and maintaining exclusive control (of a location)
advantageous; favourable; better; profitable; lucrative; gainful
gradually; by degrees; little by little; step by step
(brute) force; using all one's might
decrease; reduction; decline
overturning; capsizing; overthrow (e.g. of a government)
to plan; to plot; to attempt (e.g. suicide, murder); to undertake (e.g. business); (arch.) to stand on tip-toes
inarticulate; not making oneself quite clear; slurring one's words; evasive
shutout; shutting out; locking out; shutout; allowing no runs (goals, etc.)