to leave alone; to leave as is; to ignore; to neglect
matter of time; question of time
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
barely; narrowly; only just; with difficulty
guidance; lead; guide; primer; influence; connections
mostly; almost; nearly; roughly; approximately; about
cleaning; sweeping; dusting; scrubbing
almost; roughly; approximately
present age; present day; today; modern era; modern times
crossing swords; competing against; contending with; fighting against
much less; to say nothing of
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic
weakness; debility; breakdown; prostration
to weaken; to grow weak; to be downcast; to be dejected; to be troubled; to be at a loss
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
discovery; detection; finding
to govern; to manage; to subdue
to save; to rescue; to help; to assist; to support (financially); to contribute (to)
guarantee; security; assurance; pledge; warranty
to tell; to (try to) persuade; to advise; to warn; to admonish; to reason
to strain; to stretch; to string up; to cover over (e.g. with tiles, ice, etc.)
feeling of tension; air of tension; tension; nervousness
private; informal; among one's people (group, friends)
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding a runner on base
bizarre; strange; eccentric; odd; queer
air; atmosphere; mood; situation; someone with no presence; someone who doesn't stand out at all
to turn one's hand to; to reach out one's hand; to get involved in; to make a move on; to strike; to beat
verbal promise; one's word
to keep a promise; to keep one's word
moment by moment; hour by hour
to rub; to chafe; to strike (match); to lose (e.g. a match); to forfeit; to squander one's money (e.g. through gambling, Pachinko, etc.)
to offer (a suggestion, etc.); to propose (an idea, etc.); to approach with (a proposal, etc.)
to imitate; to follow; to emulate
lending (money); finance; loan; adaptability; versatility; flexibility
safety; security; safely; without incident; good health; inaction
to open one's eyes wide (in anger, surprise, etc.); to goggle at
something; something or other; so-and-so; somehow; anyhow; one way or another
fire fighting; extinguishing a fire
shallow; superficial; thoughtless; short-sighted; foolish; silly