pushing through; bulldozing; doing something by force; arm twisting
prosperity; thriving; flourishing
foundation stone; cornerstone
extraordinary; exceptional; unprecedented; solecistic; non-standard; irregular
Mecca; Makkah; mecca; centre for some field or activity (center)
disadvantage; handicap; unfavorable position
management effort; managerial effort; operation action
in a lively way; vividly; freshly; animatedly; actively; energetically
seed (e.g. of a plant); pip; progeny; offspring; paternal blood; lineage; sperm
reason; circumstances; grounds; because of; due to; as a result of
settlement of accounts; closing accounts; financial results; reporting (of accounts)
to run a shop; to have a shop
relaxation; recreation; recess
to head towards; to be inclined to go towards; to head for a place naturally
battle for sales at year-end; year-end shopping season
parking lot; car park; carpark; parking garage
with a clatter; with a rattle; (almost) empty; (mostly) vacant; raspy (voice); gravelly; with a gargle
at first; in the beginning; originally
together with; same; both; all; including ...
equality (esp. of status); equal footing; equal terms
old-fashioned; ancient-looking; time-worn
outward appearance; exterior appearance; outward show; looks
because of; owing to; due to
to run along; to run beside; to follow (a policy, plan, etc.); to act in accordance with; to meet (wishes, expectations, etc.); to satisfy
construction; building; putting up; erecting; creation; formulation
to be expensive; to be costly
crowd of people; great number of people; in great numbers
comparatively; relatively; fairly; rather; pretty; unexpectedly
to die out; to peter out; to become extinct; to cease; to be stopped; to be discontinued
cheap-looking; tawdry; insignificant
learning by ear; memory of having heard something before
one color; one kind; one tendency; being the sole mood, sentiment, focus of attention, etc.
of all people; a person of ...'s standing
so-so; passable; now, now; there, there; my, my; oh my!
to talk; to tell; to recite; to pledge; to conspire with
to pour drinks for each other; to drink together
supposing; even if; granting that; temporarily; provisionally; for the time being
in public; in company; in the presence of others
to have a warped view; to be jaundiced; to feel that one has been unfairly treated; to be jealous; to be envious