contract; compact; agreement
on one occasion; once; at one point; at one time
push; pushing; weight; pressure; authority; forcefulness
to begin to open; to come out; to smile broadly; to come apart at the seams (clothes)
after all is said and done; no matter what people say; in the end; definitely; undeniably
to put on the market; to put out for sale; to put on sale; to become popular
molding; moulding; shaping; forming; modelling (i.e. plastic arts); modeling
to be obsessive (about); to be overly concerned (with); to be particular (about); to pay special attention (to); to get stuck; to be obstructed
head; chief; merit; strong point; superiority; major
introduction; presentation; referral; showcase (of a product)
perhaps; maybe; perchance; by some chance; by any chance
to be connected (to); to be joined together; to connect (of a telephone call, the internet, etc.); to get through; to lead (to an outcome); to bring about (a result); to be lined up (e.g. of cars)
swift attack; quick attack; fast break; right away; without delay; immediately
one's own strength or effort; (by) oneself
to grant (request, wish); to answer (prayer); to make come true (e.g. a dream); to realize; to fulfill
mind; spirit; attitude; mentality; spirit (of a matter); essence
deep impression; being deeply moved; being deeply touched
change for the better; improvement; looking better (than before)
personnel; members; lineup (of a team); announcement of next day's match-ups
shyness; fear of strangers; stranger anxiety
near; close; beside; attendant; retainer; vassal
happiness; good fortune; luck; blessing
while crying; tearfully; in tears
to leave; to go away; to pass; to elapse; to be distant; to send away; to drive off
ill-natured; mean; nasty; sadistic; cruel; mean-spirited
cart-horse; work-horse; doing something wholeheartedly; doing with one's undivided attention
sleek; smooth; thin (of a liquid); without hesitation or delay
horse; horse racing; promoted bishop; knight (court card in mekuri karuta and unsun karuta)
work; labor; achievement; performance; salary; income
corporate drone; corporate slave
soul; spirit; willpower; vitality; something as important as one's own life; something invaluable
I've heard that ...; rumour has it that ...; it appears as if ...
underground; below the ground; world of the dead; the grave; underground (activities, movement, etc.); secret
being startled; getting a shock
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
strange; odd; unusual; eccentric; peculiar
caller; visitor; company; guest
investigation (e.g. into someone's guilt); questioning; pressing; catching up; overtaking
mumblingly; mutteringly; unintelligibly
for (e.g. "she dances well for an eight-year old"); considering it's (something or someone)
abduction; kidnapping; kidnaping
forcibly; by force; against one's will
black; black (coffee); exploitative (company); overly harsh; boldface; blackface
if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say