one's youth; early life; one's early days; one's early years
(private) secretary; treasured book; secret book
to play a role; to serve a function; to play a part
personal attendant; valet; maid
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
intricate workmanship; delicate handiwork; cheap trick; petty trick; obvious stratagem
popular use; circulation; to pass as; to pass for
to stop talking; to break off; to pause
component; factor; item (e.g. in list); element (e.g. in array); member (e.g. data structure)
huff!; yo-heave-ho!; heigh-ho; to butter up; to suck up to
to soften; to moderate; to relieve
irresponsible; perfunctory; lukewarm; half-baked; reasonable; moderate
partaking; participating; taking part in; sharing (something with someone)
to throw out; to drop; to toss; to abandon; to neglect; to dismiss
provocation; stirring up; arousal; excitement; stimulation
unpleasant; disagreeable; nasty; lewd; lascivious; obscene
miserable; pitiable; shameful; deplorable; pathetic
for a short while; for a while; for some time; for the time being
ending without incident; being successfully brought to completion; finishing something without a hitch
supply; provision; raising; procurement
before one knows it; without realizing; unawares; unnoticed
hands behind one's back; hands tied behind one's back; behind (e.g. someone); rear; appearance from behind
solid; robust; tight; taut; shrewd; calculating
catch; catching; catch; shop tout; puller-in; catching (in swimming and boating); catching the water
sad; wretched; deplorable
oneself (itself, etc.); I; me; you; by oneself (itself, etc.); interjection expressing anger or chagrin
all; wholly; entirely; completely; without exception
to make sense; to be consistent; to be logical; to stand to reason; to be coherent
to dodge (e.g. a question); to evade; to sidestep; to give (someone) the slip
stand; rack; support; holder; counter for machines, incl. vehicles; setting (e.g. in jewellery); level (e.g. price level)
common saying; everyday talk; common parlance
weekly publication; weekly magazine
to go on about (one's love affairs); to speak proudly of (one's spouse, girlfriend, etc.); to speak fondly of
young man who becomes famous overnight
magic; witchcraft; sorcery; spell
to be careless; to be inattentive; long and disheveled (e.g. hair) (dishevelled); (arch.) flaring up (fire); (arch.) rising (e.g. steam)
sermon; preaching; remonstration; scolding; lecturing
to use tact; to exercise discretion; to be tactful; to be thoughtful; to have the sense (to do); to take a hint