friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
to grasp at straws; to resort to desperate measures
don't you think?; indicates question
folding chair (with tubular metal frame)
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair
in public; in company; in the presence of others
heartrending; desperate; hopeless; full of grief
to catch off guard; to catch unprepared
exaggerated; overdone; overblown; hyperbolic; bombastic; grandiose
to sigh; to breathe a sigh
to be affected; to be theatrical; to be pompous
gesture; movement; action; acting; performance
drama; play; Chinese opera
in its entirety; whole; wholly
to be confused; to be bewildered; to be taken aback
to concede one is entirely in the wrong (for the sake of argument)
imprudence; misbehavior; misbehaviour; misunderstanding
slashing (someone) with a sword diagonally from the shoulder
embankment; bank; beef sinew stewed in miso and mirin
wandering samurai; soldier of fortune; brigand; mountain-dwelling robber
settlement (of a matter); sorting out; winding up (affairs); cleaning up afterwards; tidying up (when finished)
oh!; ah!; oh dear!; good grief!; dear me!; thank God!
baptism; christening; initiation (into a society, group, etc.); baptism; one's first experience of something; baptism (by fire, etc.)
sieve; sifter; screen; screening (jobs, candidates, etc.)
fine (mesh, fabric texture)
draining basket (traditionally made of bamboo); colander; something full of holes; zaru soba; strong drinker; someone who can drink like a fish
to become twisted; to grow distorted; to get sulky; to sulk; to grow bitter; to become embittered
to carry around; to be roundabout (speech, actions, etc.); to be indirect
moss; short plants resembling moss (incl. other bryophytes, lichens, very small spermatophytes, etc.)
favorite phrase; favourite phrase; byword; something one always talks about
fast forward (e.g. VCR, tape deck, etc.)
general idea; concept; notion
to read a large number (of); to read widely; to read everything that one can lay one's hands on (usu. of specific type, genre)
Einstein; Einstein, Albert (1879-1955; German-born theoretical physicist)
turn; turn (melodic ornament); turn (in a game)
sweeping over (e.g. of a natural disaster); engulfing; sweeping victory; clean sweep
United Kingdom; UK; Britain; England
performance (of a play, opera, etc.); staging; presentation