to be to the point; to be pertinent
to drive away; to clear; to scatter; to disperse
goal; target; aim; mark; sign; landmark
looking coldly on; looking upon disapprovingly; frowning on
hundred-yen store; dollar store
to buy all (of something) one can get one's hands on; to buy up; to scoop up
to pick up; to adopt (a proposal); to take up (a topic); to take issue with; to make a problem of; to report (news); to cover
confectionery; sweets; candy; cake
to be particular about one's food; to have a discriminating palate
good-naturedness; good-natured person; credulous person; easy mark
infancy; childhood; tender age
remarkably; markedly; rapidly; sound of breaking or creaking
to distinguish oneself; to stand out
privileged path to high status (e.g. in business, education, etc.); fast track to success; road to success
(hospital) nurse; registered nurse; RN
to sing at the top of one's voice; to belt out a song; to express one's feelings fully in a poem; to praise in poetry
ruin; destruction; devastation; waste; decay
head (of a household); proprietor (of a store); proprietress; (arch.) entertaining someone as one's guest
ivy (esp. Boston ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
(doing) as one pleases; to one's heart's content; letting (something) go unchecked; leaving uncontrolled; leaving (something) to take its own course
closely (packed, lined up, etc.); tightly; densely; (work) sufficiently
gossipy; abusive; critical; jabbering
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
place to go; place one can go
to stray into; to lose one's way (and enter); to wander into
elm tree (esp. the Japanese elm, Ulmus davidiana var. japonica)
tree; shrub; wood; timber; wooden clappers (signalling the beginning or end of a performance)
beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
deterioration; getting worse; worsening; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
hard to say; inexpressible; hesitant to say; embarrassing; delicate
similar instance; similar case; parallel case; analogy
it is not possible (to, that); there is no such thing as
dropping out; falling behind; omission; being left out; falling off; coming off
if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle
damp; humid; wet; gloomy; melancholy; depressing
unsanitary condition; lack of hygienic care; inattention to hygiene; unhygienic conditions
to stick it out (until the end)
to weigh on one's mind; to trouble one's heart; to be concerned about; to worry about
hanging loosely; dangling limply
hee hee hee; hi hi hi; chuckling; snickering
middle-age; middle age; midlife; one's middle years