Notes

The phrase "food for thought" refers to an idea or piece of information that's worth pondering or thinking over. Another way of saying this is “something to think about.”
resolving the problem of distraction while learning

as dry as a bone: extremely dry. Ex: I don't think he's been watering these plants - the soil is as dry as a bone.

eat into
to destroy or waste gradually. Acid eats into metal; The school fees have eaten into our savings.
off colour
adj (off-colour when prenominal)
1. slightly ill; unwell

in arrears - in debt; "he fell behind with his mortgage payments"; "a month behind in the rent"; "a company that has been run behindhand for years"; "in arrears with their utility bills"
behindhand, behind

cry over spilt milk
To pointlessly lament a misfortune that cannot be undone.

from scratch
From the very beginning.

grass roots
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy)
a. the ordinary people as distinct from the active leadership of a party or organization: used esp. of the rank-and-file members of a political party, or of the voters themselves

Verb 1. fit out - provide with (something) usually for a specific purpose; "The expedition was equipped with proper clothing, food, and other necessities"
equip, outfit, fit

mechanize: to use a machine to do something that used to be done by hand:
Farming has been mechanized, reducing the need for labor.
fit like a glove
1. To be perfectly sized for someone, as of an article of clothing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "fit" and "like."
The alterations turned out great—that gown really fits you like a glove now.
These shoes are too big—I need to find ones that fit like a glove so that I don't trip.
haggle: to attempt to decide on a price or conditions that are acceptable to the person selling the goods and the person buying them, usually by arguing:
It's traditional that you haggle over/about the price of things in the market

Pollution-free Planet

brim
to become full of something, especially a liquid:
Her cunt brimmed with cum when she was making love.
(figurative) His recent triumphs have left the tennis ace brimming (over) with (= full of) confidence and energy.

throw down the gauntlet
to invite someone to fight or compete with you:
A price war looks likely now that a leading supermarket has thrown down the gauntlet to its competitors.

fly at someone/something
to attack another person or animal suddenly:
He flew at his brother like a crazy person.

Reductions in pollution levels could retard global warming.

withhold: to refuse to give something or to keep back something:
to withhold information/support
During the trial, the prosecution was accused of withholding crucial evidence from the defence.
Police are withholding the dead woman's name until her relatives have been informed.
She withheld her rent until the landlord agreed to have the repairs done.
The government is planning to withhold benefit payments from single mothers who refuse to name the father of their child.

amalgamate: to join or unite to form a larger organization or group, or to make separate organizations do this:
The electricians' union is planning to amalgamate with the technicians' union.
The different offices will be amalgamated as/into employment advice centres.

mingle: to mix or combine, or be mixed or combined:
The excitement of starting a new job is always mingled with a certain apprehension.
The two flavours mingle well.