older brother and younger sister
to hit (someone); to strike; to make (a speech); to give (an address); to gamble
of course; certainly; indeed
elder brother; big brother; one's senior; one's elder; old ingredients; stale ingredients
to grip; to grasp; to squeeze
to hesitate to say; to mumble; to hem and haw; to falter
lining; backing; backing up (e.g. a theory); support; bolstering
soldier; combatant; warrior
commonplace (of people or animals); ordinary; typical; ubiquitous; run-of-the-mill; found around every corner
near oneself; close to one; familiar
inarticulate; not making oneself quite clear; slurring one's words; evasive
ceremonial; ritual; ritualistic; formal
implication; nuance; shade of meaning; connotation
event; phenomenon; matter
carefree; relaxed; comfortable; at one's ease
self-; from (a time or place)
impressiveness; impact; force; intensity; presence; appeal
to be completed; to be finished; to be ready (e.g. to serve or eat); to be very drunk; to get plastered
binding (someone) hand and foot; being tied down (by rules, obligations, etc.)
mixture; jumble; blend; making a cord by entwining threads of various colours
aim; object; expectations; prospects; something that can be relied upon; snack served with alcoholic drink; pad
pivot; vital point; cornerstone; Japanese photinia
return of a courtesy; returning one's thanks; return salute; return call
obstinate; inflexible; thickheaded
superiors; big shots; higher-ups; VIPs; dignitaries
to compete with; to argue with; to quarrel
depending on; dependent on
fighting bravely; strenuous efforts
to make a joint vow; to swear together; to pledge
to overlook; to fail to notice; to miss (seeing)
to bear in mind; to keep remembering; to note
pitiful; heartbreaking; heartrending; touching; tragic; sad
armpit; under one's arm; beside; close to; aside; to the side; off-track
to be temperate in; to refrain; to make notes; to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for; to be in waiting for
to take to; to let one's heart go out to
indirectly; obliquely; implicitly; by implication; in a roundabout way; casually
brisk and efficient; diligent; devoted; spirited
taking (a suspect to the police); dragging (someone) away
large drop (of rain, sweat, tears, etc.); large grain-like object (e.g. grape, cherry)