to tighten; to stiffen; to brace; to strain
one army; whole army; first string players; the cool kids; the popular kids
captured piece that can be reused; person or object held in reserve; available means
thinking; thought; idea; notion; intention; plan
wrong; not good; hopeless; past hope; must not do
I've heard that ...; rumour has it that ...; it appears as if ...
I'm sorry; (it's) inexcusable; I feel regretful; thank you very much (for help, etc.)
unworthy (of one's father, teacher, etc.); I; me; incompetent; unskilled; (arch.) unfortunate
from the standpoint of; as a matter of (e.g. fact); aboard (a ship or vehicle); on top of; first volume (e.g. book); superior quality; best
when it comes to ...; where ... is concerned; if it's the case that ...; if it turns out that ...; if it's true that ...
massing (of troops); gathering
to draw (a thread); to let out (e.g. a rope); to head out as a group; to set out in large numbers; to send out one after another; to dispatch
as expected; sure enough; after all (is said and done); in the end; too; also
least; lowest; worst; awful; horrible; at the very least
prime minister (in ancient China)
to endeavor (endeavour); to try; to strive; to make an effort; to exert oneself; to be diligent
to take advantage of an opportunity
indicates supposition; if ... then; when; (typically after someone's name) indicates exasperation
100,000; hundred thousand
(cannot) possibly; (not) by any means; (not) at all; utterly; absolutely
to give; to confer; to bestow; to kindly do for one; to oblige; to favour
the minute (that) ...; no sooner than ...; as soon as; whether or not
how (beautiful, etc.); what a ...; nothing worth mentioning; nothing special; of what name
to be amazed; to be shocked; to be astonished; to be astounded; to be disgusted; to be exasperated
person of letters; literary person
that kind of; of the sort; of the kind; such
making frequent appearances; appearing often; appearing and disappearing
defense; defence; pleading; advocacy
giving and taking; exchange (of letters); arguing back and forth; (conversational) exchange
to raise; to raise up; to wake; to wake up; to cause; to bring about; to start
apiece; each; at a time; piecemeal
aim; object; expectations; prospects; something that can be relied upon; snack served with alcoholic drink; pad
to anticipate; to expect; to place confidence in; to put trust in; to find promising; to see good prospects (in)
danger; Chinese "rooftop" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
your will; your pleasure; your wish; certainly; as you say; you are quite right
with trouble; at great pains; rare; valuable; kind; generous
or; either ... or; maybe; perhaps; some ... and others ...; sometimes ... and at other times ...