country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
offering; presentation; donation
grey moustache; white beard
to fall for (someone's smooth talk); to be taken in (by honeyed words)
to compete ruthlessly; (lit.) to sharpen swords
burlesque; low comedy; farce
to be seized with fear; to be intimidated; to lose one's nerve; to be frightened; to get cold feet; to chicken out
trivial; not amounting to much; not enough to cause a problem; not as much as expected
great debt of gratitude; great obligation
dying in vain; wasteful sacrifice of life
funny; comical; humorous; ridiculous; silly; absurd
(making, launching) concentrated attack (on, against)
to rummage through; to ransack (e.g. a drawer); to throw into confusion; to disrupt; to upset
dismissal; firing; retirement; being relieved from one's post; being relieved of a burden
goddamn idiot; moron; nitwit
to offer (a suggestion, etc.); to propose (an idea, etc.); to approach with (a proposal, etc.)
virtual image; false image; pretense; pretence
New World (esp. the Americas, but also Australasia); new world
close (e.g. of business); leaving (e.g. school); being outdone; compare unfavourably (with); closing price (stockmarket); sink mark (casting, moulding)
to give one's life; to lay down one's life
firm promise; definite promise
low-life; sleazebag; boor; person of humble rank; humble person; peasant
snare; trap (for catching wild game, etc.); trap (i.e. ruse, subterfuge, etc.)
crocodile; alligator; (arch.) shark
starting (machine, engine, car, etc.); activation
affiliated with; under jurisdiction of; under the umbrella
to play dumb; to feign ignorance; to act as innocent
hidden treasure; treasured article
to be dispersed; to get separated
to change sides; to double-cross; to betray; to roll over (in bed); to turn over
to ring; to sound; to be popular; to be esteemed; to state; to insist