national politics; political situation; statecraft; body politic
decorations; offerings; mere window dressing
marriage partner; spouse; wife-to-be; husband-to-be; future spouse
first meeting; first contest between
to head home; to leave for home
to be different from what was previously said; to be different from what was promised
to talk on and on; to rattle on; to keep on talking (without pause)
following the lead (of); playing second fiddle (to); follower
dispatch of troops; despatch of troops; expedition
first (of all); firstly; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
selfish; egoist; (arch.) self-indulgent; (arch.) wilful; (arch.) willful
graceful; ladylike; modest; gentle; polite; quiet
haughty; arrogant; proud; stuck-up
time; hour; season; suitable time; opportunity; chance
for oneself; for one's own sake; on one's own account
making light of; thinking little of; slighting; belittling; dismissing; contempt
camouflage; disguise; pretense; feigning; masquerade
to feel goodwill (towards); to wish someone well; to have a strong liking (for); to be emotionally involved
godsend; lifesaver; timely offer; windfall
convalescence; recovering from an illness; recuperating
declining; refusal; nonacceptance; turning down; withdrawal (e.g. of candidacy); pulling out (e.g. of a race)
reluctant to; not inclined to; disinclined; unwilling
snugly; neatly; compactly; cosily
misrepresentation; false statement
holding tightly; squeezing; onigiri; rice ball; (accepting a) bribe
to put effort into; to strain; to put strength into; to put forth effort
to live under another's roof; to become a dependent on; to flatten oneself (against); to lean in close to
sticky; thickly (e.g. painted); heavily (applied); all over (pasting, stamping, etc.); clinging (e.g. of a person); following around
disrespect; irreverence; impiety; blasphemy; profanity
resembling ...; having the traits or characteristics of ...; -looking; with a ...-like expression; with an air of ...
composition (of painting); structural outline; compositional arrangement
thanks; gratitude; manners; etiquette; bow; reward
to miss each other; to cross (in the post); to go astray; to go wrong
to perform in tune with each other; to get along well; to be in perfect harmony; to make a perfect pair (team, etc.)
to marry off; to espouse to
brave warrior; hero; brave man
odd; strange; queer; peculiar
only because ...; definitely not; certainly not; if actually
low; vulgar; base; ignoble; mean; selfish