addiction to the printed word; addiction to reading; reading addict; obsessive reader
strange; weird; odd; strange thing; strange person
to be precocious; to be mature for one's age; to seem grown-up; to seem mature
manzai; comic dialogue; two-person comedy act, usu. presented as a fast-paced dialogue, occ. presented as a skit
tall and thin; long and thin; lanky; spindly; gangly
beard (esp. on the chin); goatee
ventriloquism; throwing one's voice
existence or nonexistence; presence or absence; consent or refusal; yes or no
leaving (on, open, unfinished, etc.); (doing) continuously; constantly; keep ...-ing
based on; on the basis of
conditional; qualified; with conditions attached
unfair practices; wrongdoing; malpractice; cheating; foul play
to act as an intermediary; to step in; to come between; to intervene; to interject
censure; denunciation; (verbal) attack; blaming
abasement; fall; forfeiture; sinking (in people's estimation)
evasion; excuse; subterfuge; runaround
guest of honour; guest of honor; privileged guest; visitor
to detain; to keep; to lock up; to retain; to leave (a letter) till called for
insertion; plug; (electrical) outlet; spasm of pain; griping pain
to fall fast asleep; to be confined to one's bed; to be laid up
realistic; practical; feasible
sudden; abrupt; unexpected
salary; pay; medical care; treatment; advance preparation
playfulness; playful mood; imaginativeness
text at the foot of a page, document, screen, etc.
child-rearing expenses; child-support payments (following divorce)
wish; desire; ambition; choice
twist; spin; ingenuity; sophistication (e.g. of writing style); monetary offering (or gift) wrapped in paper; twisting throw
land mine; topic that sets someone off; sensitive topic; something that seems fine at first but turns out to be very bad (e.g. product, business); booby trap
to be reluctant to do; to hesitate to do; to be unable to do; to not be in a position to do
drying up; running dry; running out; being exhausted; being drained
to dive (into or under water); to get under; to get into; to hide oneself (esp. from the government); to conceal oneself
revival (of an old system, custom, fashion, etc.); restoration; return; resurrection; rebirth
eye measurement; measure with eye
how can (one) do something
to remove; to clear away; to except from; to make an exception of; to lay aside; to set aside
the whole body; the five styles of writing Chinese characters; the five parts of the body (head, two hands and two feet; or head, neck, chest, hands and feet)