upper floor; upstairs; top of the stairs
little by little; bit by bit
flair; flash; insight; flash (of inspiration, wit, etc.); waving (e.g. of a flag in the wind)
counter for people (usu. seating, reservations and such); first name; famous; great; name; noun
to laugh off (a rumor, worries, etc.); to laugh away
on closer reflection; on second thought; come to think of it; actually
no hint (e.g. quiz questions where no clues are given)
part of the eyebrow closest to the nose
(place) right in the center; dead center; dead centre; exact middle; heart
to turn back; to go back; to come back; to return; to retrace one's steps
structure; construction; makeup; framework; organization; pattern
plaster or mortar-covered wall; yōkai resembling an invisible wall impeding or misdirecting people walking at night
blind alley; cul-de-sac; dead end street; deadlock; impasse; dead end
white plaster wall; tofu; bean curd
completely ordinary; plain; commonplace; everyday
dead end; blind alley; no through road (i.e. on signage); end; end of the road; end point
passing through without stopping; passing by
turning round; going around; turning about; surrounding; encircling
smooth (i.e. without problems)
to fall forward (of a person); to tumble forward
to be caught; to be arrested; to hold on to; to grasp; to find (e.g. proof); to get (e.g. a taxi)
to seize (someone) by the collar; to grab (someone) by the scruff of the neck; to collar (someone)
mimicry; mimesis; camouflage
direct unforked road; straight path
upper stratum (classes, stories, storeys); upper layer; layer above
great success; big hit; (hitting the) jackpot; big win; being right on the mark (of a prediction); being bang on
hiding; concealing; being hidden; pocket
consideration; taking into account
to lay hands on; to touch; to care for; to look after; to make off with; to steal
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
aimlessly; unexpectedly (showing up); slowly swaying; staggering; moving feebly
to pass through; to pass by; to pass (of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to exceed
step; stair; shelf; layer; grade; level; dan (degree of advanced proficiency in martial arts, go, shogi, etc.)
rhythmical; rhythmic; well-paced
to call a person's attention (to)
siege; encirclement; envelopment; surrounding; besiegement
grotesque; bizarre; weird; grotesque (style)
rough; wild; violent; immoderate; extravagant; reckless
big snake; (large) serpent
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
sickle-shaped neck (e.g. snake, praying mantis); crooked neck; gooseneck
evil; wickedness; (role of) the villain (in theatre, etc.); the bad guy