to catch 'the stupid' (e.g. from talking to stupid people, watching mindless TV, etc.)
special number; special issue
to take hold of; to possess; to haunt
war photographer; combat cameraman
watercolors; watercolours; watercolor paint; watercolour paint
how could I (you, etc.) ...?; how dare you (they, etc.) ...; how can you have the nerve to ...?
speck; dot; point; only a little; particle; only one
backdoor admission to a school; backdoor entry to a school; buying one's way into school; bribing one's way into a school
to be on the right track; to go well
Japanese plum (Prunus salicina); Chinese plum
to count on; to anticipate; to expect
charge for a meal (usu. at school); school lunch fee
elegant; graceful; refined; leisurely; comfortable; easy
job hunting; job searching
to grovel; to go down on one's hands and knees
pleased to make your acquaintance
gambling; gaming; speculation; undertaking a risky venture; (arch.) professional gambler; (arch.) gamester
scum of society; good-for-nothing; vermin
forty-ninth day after a person's death
sending a manuscript to the printer; receiving a manuscript from the author
dad; daddy; papa; pa; pop
broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
money to cover the cost of preparations or arrangements
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
helmet (of a warrior); headpiece
handling things like an adult; behaving like a mature grown-up