bum; good-for-nothing; ne'er-do-well
a question (an issue) of where responsibility (liability) lies; a question of who is responsible (to blame)
mission; delegation; transmission
competition; rivalry; something worth doing
using every trick (in the book)
third day of the month; three days
to chase about; to hang on; to drive hard
seed (e.g. of a plant); pip; material (e.g. for an article); matter (e.g. of a story); ingredient; leaven (bread); cause
brethren; brothers; fellow countrymen; fellowman; compatriot
murder; killing; murderer
to miss (capturing); to fail to catch; to let slip
to bring disgrace (dishonor, dishonour) on; to fling mud at; to put to shame
pursuit (of a fleeing enemy); chase
to become loose; to slacken (e.g. rope); to become less tense; to relax; to slacken (e.g. coldness, supervision); to become lax; to become softer (e.g. ground, facial expression)
false charge; false accusation; misrepresentation
to make an appeal; to urge
to accomplish; to fulfill; to carry out
thin veneer; hasty preparation; knowledge or skill learned as a stopgap; re-tempering a dull sword (so that it looks as if it's sharp, but is actually unusable)
poor-quality; shoddy; unskillful; inexpert; unlucky
to get complicated; to grow worse; to turn sour
self and others; this and that; both sides; oneself and one's opponent; he and I
to master (a skill); proprietor; manager; leader; chief; master (of arts, science, etc.); master (recording)
dignitaries; very important persons; VIPs
silly; foolish; absurd; childish; easy; trifling
asking for the moon; pining for what one doesn't have; thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence; asking for too much; asking for the impossible
to connect; to tie; to fasten; to transfer (phone call)
on the brink of collapse; in a state of near-collapse
abandoned building; derelict building
rudely (barging in); straight; directly; without hesitation; without permission
to decline (in prosperity); to become deserted; to become desolate; to taper off (of a sound)
sewer; sewer system; sewerage; drain
hasty; impatient; restless; rash
to bare one's fangs; to snarl (at)
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
healthy; robust; strong; solid; durable
way out; means to escape; escape route
several; a number of; quantity; amount; counting; figures; number
soliloquy; monologue; speaking to oneself
topic; subject; much talked about; topical; in the news
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
new land; new world; new sphere of activity
to knock down; to beat (someone) up; to injure (someone) so badly they cannot recover (esp. emotionally); to overwhelm (with mental anguish, etc.)