thank you for waiting; sorry to have kept you waiting
cushion; cushion (to soften the blow); mitigation
from the beginning; from scratch
to have luck on one's side; to get lucky; to have one's eyes bulge out of one's head (with surprise)
announcement (esp. over public-address system); official announcement; formal information release
opening (in a game of go, chess, etc.); early stages; initial phase; outset
steady; sound; stable; safe (e.g. business); reliable; trustworthy
to swing; to shake; to wave; to veer; to deflect; to lean towards
acting as agent; acting on (someone's) behalf; executing business for
to guide; to lead; to show the way; to derive; to deduce
yes; sure; gotcha; sycophantically; servilely; fawningly
course (of events); development; progress; market order; order without limit
self-destruction; ruining oneself; natural decay; perishing naturally
close contest; close match; close game; close combat
to intrude; to butt in; to meddle; to be forward; to be self-assertive; to show off
ninth; Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
split among friends; falling out; internal discord
number (of long, cylindrical things, movies, trains, home runs, etc.)
bargaining; haggling; tactics; strategy; (tactical) advance or retreat of troops
to monitor closely (for rule-breaking, etc.); to keep a close eye on
to misread; to misinterpret; to misunderstand
being defeated; being eliminated (from competition)
senior; veteran; old-timer
thinking (about a matter) for a long time; contemplating for a long time; lengthy consideration; pondering
with these words; while saying
till; to; concerning (an area of expertise); swearing by (one's sword, God, etc.)
information; experience; knowledge; observation
to loathe to part (with); to be reluctant to leave (someone)
age difference; disparity in age; age gap
operating together; working together; being linked (to); being tied (to); being connected (with); interlocking
insipid; flat; dull; lifeless; listless
to be placed on; to be set on; to be piled on; to appear (in print); to be mentioned; to be recorded
register of names; list of names; roll; register; roster
matter being discussed (e.g. in a private conversation); it's not your business; it doesn't matter (to you); our side of the story (in contrast to another's version)
interview (e.g. for a job)
to finish writing; to complete; to write down (e.g. a list); to write out
misprint; misspelling; typo; typographical error; erratum
authority; expert; counter for messages, letters, notes, documents, etc.; understanding (esp. of male-female relations); tact; supernatural powers
to go past; to pass; to pass by
not a chance; you wish!; that's not going to happen; that won't work