prank; practical joke; horseplay; mischievous trick
level; standard; water level
in the end; on top of that
what's what; heads or tails
to drop like a rock (e.g. of reputation, power, influence); to go down the toilet
the instability of a political situation; political instability
certain; definite; clear; credible
vitality; (one's) life force
grave; sad; mournful; sorrowful; pensive
to complete decisively; to do to completion
censure; denunciation; (verbal) attack; blaming
to a greater or lesser extent (degree); more or less
lending (money, commodities, etc.); finance; loan; adaptability; versatility; flexibility
external pressure; outside pressure; foreign pressure
continuance; survival; persistence; retention; duration
balloon (toy or decoration); balloon (hot-air or gas)
administrative organization; administrative system; administrative structure
each (person); individually; one by one; one at a time; in turn
severe; harsh; stringent; rigorous; strict; unfair
habit of putting things off; truancy habit
skipping out; cutting class; truancy; procrastination
collection (of art, stamps, etc.); collecting; collection (i.e. a range of new clothes); fashion show
to cling to; to hold on to; to grapple; to set about doing; to begin; to possess (someone; of an evil spirit, idea, etc.)
somehow (or other); for some reason; without knowing why; something (or other); some ... or other
shelter; safe shelter; evacuation shelter; place of refuge
one's nearest neighbors; houses in one's immediate neighborhood; (lit.) the three houses across the street and the two houses on either side of one's house
autonomous (national) defence; self-reliant defence
firm; strong; solid; stable
vital part (of the body); tender spot; key point; essential point; male crotch (as a target in fighting); vital point
lump (of flour, etc.); clump (of ground meat, etc.)
catercorner; diagonally opposite
counter for buildings (esp. houses); suffix for a pen name, stage name, etc.
stubborn; dogged; persistent; tough; sturdy; hardy
subsidence; sinking; fall (of a city, fortress, etc.); surrender; fall (in position, rank, etc.); demotion
to gain in skill; to improve; to get better
focusing on only one thing; obsessively; intensely; selfish; self-serving
last ray of hope; only hope