Cram School, notch, courtship, alternative-lifestylers

 
 In London, a Pre-Olympic Race to Find a Place to Dock

London's houseboat residents—many of them alternative-lifestylers who camp on the water for cheap—are racing to find a place to dock after Britain imposed restrictions related to this summer's Olympics.

Taking Health Care Courtship Up Another Notch
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
White House officials say they have begun an aggressive campaign to line up votes for a health care bill.


courtship

n.

1. The act, process, or period of courting.
2. Zoology. Specialized behavior in animals that leads to or initiates mating.

notch
n.(nŏch)

1. 1. A V-shaped cut.
   2. Such a cut used for keeping a record.
2. A narrow pass between mountains.
3. Informal. A level or degree: a notch or two higher in quality.

tr.v., notched, notch·ing, notch·es.

1. To cut a notch in.
2. To record by or as if by making notches: notched the score on a stick.
3. Informal. To achieve; score: notched 30 wins in a single season.

[Probably from a notch, alteration of an otch, from French oche, from Old French, from ochier, to notch.]

cram (LEARN) 
verb [I] -mm-
to try to learn a lot very quickly before an exam:
She's cramming for her history exam.CRAM SCHOOL補習班

crammer 
noun [C] UK OLD-FASHIONED INFORMAL
a school or a book which helps you to learn quickly