to compare;  to make a comparison;  to compete;  to vie
 double;  twice (as much);  twofold
 near;  neighbourhood;  nearly (e.g. "it took nearly one year");  close to;  shortly;  soon
 yes;  that is correct;  understood;  I see;  present;  here;  pardon?
 you said;  he said;  if ... then;  do you seriously think that;  I already told you;  you should know by now that;  the said ...
 what is called;  as it is called;  the so-called;  so to speak
 bubble era (of Japan; 1986-1991)
 talk;  speech;  topic;  subject;  discussions;  negotiation;  rumor
 in that way;  thus;  so;  so?
 showy;  brilliant;  gorgeous;  florid;  gay
 style;  way;  shape;  form;  appearance;  state
 and;  besides;  because;  since;  the thing is;  for one thing
 youth;  springtime of life;  adolescent
 indicates direct object of action;  indicates subject of causative expression;  indicates an area traversed;  indicates time (period) over which action takes place;  indicates point of departure or separation of action;  indicates object of desire, like, hate, etc.
 rejoicing;  glorification;  exultation;  celebration;  enjoyment;  singing praises
 period;  epoch;  the times;  those days;  oldness;  ancientness
 Christmas cake;  unmarried woman above the age of 25
 to compare (something) to;  to liken;  to speak figuratively;  to use a simile;  to use a metaphor
 things like;  something like;  someone like;  such a thing as;  (the fact) that;  to think that
 thing;  object;  one's things;  possessions;  things;  something;  quality
 student (esp. a university student)
 pluralizing suffix (esp. for people and animals; formerly honorific)
 just (e.g. "just wait here");  come now;  tolerably;  passably;  well...;  I think...
 at this juncture;  after all this time;  at this stage;  now
 charge;  cost;  generation;  age;  era;  a representative of;  on behalf of
 zealous;  enthusiastic;  ardent;  fervent;  keen;  eager
 notebook;  copy-book;  note;  noting down;  (musical) note;  laptop (computer)
 to take;  to pick up;  to pass;  to hand;  to get;  to obtain;  to adopt (a method, proposal, etc.)
 no sooner than;  as soon as;  immediately after;  at the thought of;  when I think about
 what;  you-know-what;  that thing;  whatsit;  whachamacallit;  (not) at all;  (not) in the slightest
 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (novel by L. F. Baum, 1900);  The Wizard of Oz (film, 1939)
 like this;  this sort;  this way
 rapid increase;  proliferation;  surge;  explosion
 inside;  interior;  among;  within;  middle;  center;  during
 where;  which;  anyway;  anyhow;  sooner or later;  eventually
 to think;  to consider;  to think (of doing);  to plan (to do);  to judge;  to assess;  to imagine
 person;  someone;  human beings;  mankind;  human (Homo sapiens);  (other) people;  others
 whole;  entirety;  whatever (is the matter)
 also;  too;  not ... either;  (it's not possible) no matter what;  although one might wish otherwise
 to reach;  to amount to;  to be up to the task;  to come up to;  to compare with;  to be a match (for)
 that is to say;  that is;  in short;  in brief;  clogging;  obstruction;  shrinkage
 the present;  present time;  as of;  present tense;  this world;  this life