To pay a certain amount of money（ある額の金銭を出費する）

→“Teams wishing to participate in the competition must ante up a token registration fee.”

→“The states were asked to ante up to back the federal government’s huge restructuring project.”

Happy without cares or worries; unconcerned about the impact or effect of one’s action or words（天真爛漫な、自分の言行が起こす結果や影響に気を払わない）

→“The blithe spirit is rare among grownups.”

→“She stepped up to the podium and delivered an explosive speech with a blithe disregard for the likely reaction.”

Vague; secretive（曖昧で秘密主義の）

→“Our president is very cagey about long-term corporate strategy.”

→“The lawmaker is cagey about her plans for the upcoming election.”

A flood; a large quantity（洪水、膨大な量）

→“The downpour caused a temporary deluge in the small town.”

→“After the masterful performance, the actress received a deluge of fan letters.”

Economic:

Financial（経済の）

→“I am not interested in financial matters. I don’t even look at the economic section of the paper.”

→“The economic forecast for 2012 is good.”

Economical:

Cost-effective, thrifty（節約的、安い）

→“Going by public transportation is more economical.”

→“You should always try to find a more economical way of doing things.”

The final stage of a journey or a project（道のりや過程の最終段階）

→“Look, there is Mount Fuji! We are now in the home stretch of this long journey.”

→“With the completion of the project, our plan has entered the home stretch.”

To pump in or add something for improvement in the status quo（現状が改善するように何かを注入・追加する）

→“Religion has injected a new hope into her life.”

→“The central bank announced that it will inject $40 million into the economy as a stimulus package.”

To begin to take effect（効果が出てくる）

→“As soon as I started applying the new ointment on my athlete’s foot, the curing process kicked in.”

→“It’s summer now. The demands of heat and humidity are kicking in.”

(As noun) Power, skill or influence at one’s disposal to get the result one seeks（目的を達成する為の力、スキルまたは影響力）

→“Okay, I will speak to the chairman about your request, since I have some leverage with him.”

→“Japan remains a major economic force, with leverage in reducing global recession.”

(As verb) To maximally make use of one’s power, skill or resources（能力や力量を最大限に発揮する）

→“I decided to take this job because it allows me to leverage my entire skill sets and talents.”

→“The nation is leveraging all its prowess to compete with its rivals.”

Special skill or expertise（得意な分野やスキル）

→“No, you won’t get me to come along to the karaoke bar. Singing is not my metier.”

→“After failing in publishing three times I had to conclude that writing is not my metier.”

To understand or experience something completely and in depth（何かを深淵に 至るまで完全に理解・体験する）

→“When I was in college, I read all the books by and on James Joyce. I really wanted to plumb his world.”

→“When my company fired me, I plumbed the depths of despair as I visited one employment agency after another.”

Old and torn（古くてみすぼらしい）

→“I turned around and there was this shabby old man in a ragged jumper.”

→“Lieutenant Columbo always looked like a ragged, unkempt man.”