unnatural; artificial; false; forced (e.g. smile); empty (e.g. compliments)
reserve; spare; treasured; valued; (ace) up one's sleeve; trump
Chinese firebird; Chinese phoenix
single; simple; singles (tennis, badminton, etc.); win bet (bet which predicts the winner of a race)
to irritate one; to get on one's nerves
new; neo-; newness; novelty; Gregorian calendar; Xin dynasty (China, 9-23 CE)
to sniff around; to snoop around; to nose about
banter; raillery; ridicule; teasing; making fun of
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
day in question; appointed day; that very day; the day (of issue, publication, etc.)
to concern; to be related
twice; again; second time
ordinary person; member of the general public; non-celebrity
to confuse (someone); to befuddle; to bewilder; to mystify; to throw up a smokescreen; (lit.) to surround with smoke
the most one can do; the best one can do; the best one can expect
to outwit; to outmanoeuvre; to steal a march on; to get the jump on; to anticipate; to forestall
pride goes before a fall; pride comes before a fall; (lit.) the proud Heike family does not last long
be (that) as it may; having said that
prosperity; glory; splendour; splendor; majesty; luxury
to build; to construct; to erect; to amass (e.g. fortune); to pile up
imitation; fake; phony; pseudo-
keenly; deeply; calmly; quietly; fixedly (e.g. gazing, staring)
something said for politeness' sake; diplomatic language; honeyed words; lip service; empty compliment
to throw at; to turn; to raise
just because; even if; even though
rough; wild; rude; harsh; gruff; violent
to induce (somebody to do something); to tempt; to act toward (somebody in a certain way); to handle (men); to send; to forward to
henchman; right-hand man; trusted confidant; inner circle
neutrality (incl. chemical, electrical, etc.); indifference; sexlessness; androgyny; neuter gender
the teens (10-19); teenage; the tenth generation
sharp parting remark; parting threat
to choose one's words (with care); to be careful with one's words
to be forestalled; to fall behind; to be one step behind
I'm afraid to say; I'm sorry to say; unfortunately
underestimation; undervaluation
order (from one's superior); command; what you say; (someone's) words
trend; tendency; movement; attitude
that gentleman; that lady; he; she
drafting; requisition; impressment; commandeering; expropriation
personal expenses; pocket money; spending money; incidental expenses; allowance
to find resolution; to be settled; to be collected; to be assembled; to be well arranged; to be in order