to puzzle over; to think deeply about; to rack one's brains over (wrack)
to write (a person) up (in a positive or negative light); to write something up so that it stands out; to write up in an exaggerated fashion; to detail; to list
cruel; merciless; atrocious; pitiful; tragic; horrible
middle-age; middle age; midlife; one's middle years
living by oneself; living alone
false report; incorrect report; misinformation; false alarm
to be conspicuous; to attract public attention
to have a limit; to go too far (e.g. joke)
people (of a country); nation; citizen; national
strongest ever; most powerful in history
person making threats; intimidator
to yield; to give in; to bend (knee, etc.); to subdue; to overpower; (arch.) to feel down
a coupler; a splice; a successor; an heir
expansion and contraction; elasticity; flexibility
stretch; tension; resilience; springiness; will-power; pluck
to threaten; to make threats
to give one's seat to someone; to offer one's seat
yen (Japanese monetary unit); circle
(enter into, be in) a state of war
in short; the point is; the important thing is; in a word; basically
charm; incantation; spell; curse
ministries and government offices; the authorities
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
spinning rapidly; turning quickly; fast-forward (VCR, etc.); scanning
this and that; this or that; one thing or another; this way and that
to master (e.g. a skill); to become accustomed to (e.g. a lifestyle); to acquire (e.g. a habit); to retain
indescribable; having no way to express
to haul in (hand over hand); to pull in; to draw in; to trace (history, threads of a story, etc.); to retrace (e.g. memories); to go over
regrettable; unsatisfactory; deplorable; lamentable
transfer; transport; removal
cause for headaches; pain in the neck; source of worry
national politics; political situation; statecraft; body politic
dark; gloomy; somber; depressing
opposition party; political opposition; opposition
mass communication; mass media
sudden; abrupt; unexpected
to be greatly perplexed; to be at a loss; to be sorely troubled; to be greatly embarrassed
string; cord; man who is financially dependent on a woman; gigolo; restrictions; conditions
to pour (into a vessel); to fill (a cup, bowl, etc.) with; to dish out (food or drink)
still more; even more; all the more; still less; even less