to pull (the puppet) strings; to direct things from behind the scenes; to stretch out (and keep going); to linger on
secretly; in secret; unseen; unobserved; inwardly; in private
strategy; stratagem; trick; scheme; plot
imposition (i.e. of rules, of a decision); compulsion
loss; damage; harm; disadvantage; handicap; drawback
big hit; big prize; bumper crop; striking it rich; right on the mark; bonanza
babysitting; babysitter; taking care of; assisting; assistant
creation; production; creative work (novel, film, etc.); fabrication; fiction; invention
to be crowded with people; to be bustling with; to prosper; to flourish; to do thriving business
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
to falter; to flinch (from); to recoil (from); to quail (at)
for the first time in one's life
for a while; for some time; for a period
payback; tit for tat; retaliation; doing over again; redoing
to arrange beforehand; to make a sign to each other; to conspire
this is why; this means; it is the case that
unthinkable; unimaginable; terrible; awful; (arch.) very
splash; spray; chance blow; by-blow; getting dragged into (a quarrel, etc.)
pure heart; naivete; innocence
uh-huh; mm-hmm; with a moan; with a groan
style; manner; way; after (period of time) again (e.g. meeting again after a year); for the first time in (period of time)
to rise; to swell; to be promoted
chime; bell (e.g. doorbell)
somehow; for some reason or other
to meet (by chance); to come across; to meet (e.g. of rivers, highways, etc.); to emerge and engage (an enemy)
ambush; lying in wait for an ambush
entreaty; supplication; petition
mumbling; chewing one's words; chewing (food); squirming; wriggling
lunch; (Western-style) single-plate lunch set; plate lunch; launch (boat); motorboat; ranch
stairs; stairway; staircase
passage; pathway; roadway; avenue; aisle
bending; curving; warping (of feelings, logic, etc.); distortion; refraction; inflection
grace (of God); benevolence (of Buddha); assistance; help; effects; influence
grass; weed; (arch.) ninja; not genuine; substandard; LOL
to grow thickly; to be overgrown; to thrive; to grow in abundance