bribe; secret fund; slush fund; money for bribery
(piece of) rope; ordinary method
greedy; grasping; tightfisted; predatory (e.g. business); calculating; avaricious
open every day of the year; open year-round; operating 365 days a year
life and death; life or death
pawning; pawnage; pledging (stock, share subscription rights, etc.)
blackmail; extortion; racketeering; blackmailer; extortionist
extortion; blackmail; shakedown; extortionist; blackmailer; racketeer
how things should be; the way something ought to be; ideal state; ideal form
to ill-treat; to bully; to torment; to be tough on (e.g. one's body); to treat harshly
corrupt policeman; dirty cop
sacrifice sale; selling at a loss; dumping; clearance sale
poverty-stricken; destitute; poor; penurious
weeping; sobbing; softly (crying); with a prolonged dull pain; having a griping pain
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
to press down; to hold down; to pin down; to suppress (feelings, disorder, opposition, etc.); to repress
to assume an air of ...; to act ...; to affect ...; to put on airs; to be self-important
sticking; clinging; with a smack (e.g. sitting down); hard; all over; thickly
state (of the US, Australia, India, Germany, etc.); province (e.g. of Canada); continent; province (of Japan); province (of ancient China); prefecture
consumption tax (incl. sales tax, VAT, excise duty, etc.)
to snatch (and run); to carry off; to swipe; to scoop up (and remove; sand, earth, etc.)
to wipe one's arse; to clean up the mess (after something going wrong); to carry the can
support (e.g. of one's dependents); maintenance
to deceive; to delude; to trick; to be as ... as ... (e.g. "as bright as day", "as beautiful as a rose")
with a clink (of metal); with a chink
bodyguard; bouncer; bar (on a door); bolt; stick or pole used for self-defence
to smash (violently); to crush; to ruin (a plan, company, etc.); to wreck; to destroy