starting afresh; going back to square one; abandoning (e.g. a plan); clearing an abacus
the defensive; passive attitude; passivity; the passive; passive voice; ukemi (the art of falling safely)
to beat someone to the punch; to get the drop on (someone); to forestall
to be forestalled; to fall behind; to be one step behind
to take to defending oneself above all; to save one's skin
sense; idea; desire; concern; attention; care
derisory; negligible; minimal; nominal; imperceptible
sensitive; susceptible; emotional; impressionable; sentimental
waxing and waning (of the Moon)
different suitabilities; being cut out for certain things (and not for others)
steady; sound; reliable; solid
to go up in smoke; to burn down; to be cremated; to vanish into thin air
at the very least; at the very most; as a bare minimum; minimum; (very) least; at least some (comfort, etc.)
to be expensive; to be costly
winner-takes-all (system)
to draw (water, etc.); to scoop up; to pump up; to draw on (ideas) (from subordinates, the public, etc.); to take into account; to adopt
earnest desire; eager hope; longing; yearning; hankering
to stay up all night; to sit up all night; to do something all night
rain water; "rain water" solar term (approx. February 19)
running the whole distance
success or failure; outcome; result
battle; fight; fighting; engagement; contest
exaltation; emotional uplift
military gains; war results; fruit of battle
(degree of) public interest in forthcoming event or performance; advance reviews
capture; seizure; military capture of a foreign vessel; making a prize of
to row a boat; to nod off; to doze off
tumultuous (with everyone voicing their opinions simultaneously); uproarious
to create (an atmosphere, feeling, etc.); to produce; to engender
to glare at; to scowl at; to glower at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully
to be partly responsible for; to have a part in; to play a role in
to be indelibly stained or ingrained; to be dyed in deeply
looking on from afar; being a spectator
eccentric; queer; unconventional; peculiar; bizarre; strange
from time immemorial; ancient; time-honoured; time-honored
conclusion; decision; end; settlement