to be frank; to drop all pretense
depressing; dark (e.g. story); grim (e.g. expression); irritating; annoying; tedious (work, person, etc.)
to stagnate; to be delayed; to be left undone; to be overdue (of a payment); to fall into arrears; to be outstanding
indecisively; hesitantly; irresolutely; wishy-washily
circuitous; roundabout; indirect
honorific; term of respect; polite expression; honorific language
important person; strategic person; key figure
outline; summary; gist; roughly; about; nearly
acting as a foster parent; caring for another's child; foster parent
jumping to a hasty conclusion; premature judgement
insufficient; inadequate; imperfect
crash; smash; bang; sound of a large, heavy object falling
to be present (esp. during a birth); to be witness to; to attend
to write (e.g. a letter); to draw up (a document); to take down (e.g. notes); to have (lunch, dinner, etc.); to eat
I don't know; I don't understand
direct talks; direct negotiations; talking to someone in person
courage; bravery; valour; valor; nerve; boldness
tolerant; generous; lenient; broad-minded; magnanimous
participation; taking part in; participating in; being concerned in
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
fruitless effort; wasted effort; abortive scheme; futility
to head home; to leave for home
to cave in; to become depressed; to sink
to give shelter to; to lodge; to put up; to accommodate
tedious; lengthy; overlong; long-winded
worker; (manual) laborer; labourer; blue-collar worker
(a person's) appearance; looks
with a start; with a jump
interception (email); wiretap; bug
talks (i.e. formal discussions); conference; meeting
being present (at the same meeting, occasion, etc.); attendance (with); sitting with; same (seating) precedence; same rank
positioning; getting a position; taking a position
to behave like a spoiled child; to behave like a spoilt child; to fawn on; to depend and presume upon another's benevolence
quickly, in a bouncing way (e.g. for a bow)
to resound; to echo; to reverberate