striking (at something) and missing; swing and a miss; vain attempt
to bash; to hit hard; to strike; to beat (someone in battle)
to brush off; to shake off
elegance; dandyism; sophistication; affectation; showing off; putting on an air
to break into fragments; to go to pieces
it's not over yet; you haven't seen anything yet; it's not over until the fat lady sings; it's too soon to tell; we're not out of the woods
negligent; neglectful; careless; remiss
to tear; to rip up; to cut up; to cleave; to forcibly separate (e.g. two lovers); (arch.) to have a tattoo in the corner of one's eye
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
a piece; a scrap; a fragment; iota; modicum; trace
progress; advance; improvement; development
(undesirable but) inseparable relationship
height; stature; length (esp. of clothing); all (one has); everything; magnificence (of a waka poem, etc.)
maximum preference; maximum priority; priority handling
at a disadvantage; in an unfavourable position; having poor prospects; standing little chance
interest; entertainment; pleasure; implicit comparison (style of the Shi Jing)
to be dampened; to be discouraged; to be weakened; to be reduced
rustling (as of silk); slithering (sound); whizzing; hissing
boundary; border; limit; bounds; frontier
cleaning; sweeping; dusting; scrubbing
taking something into consideration; making allowances; discounting
to think out; to devise; to invent; to begin to think; to come up with a plan
blind acceptance; blind belief; credulity
order; discipline; regularity; system; method
here and there; little by little; sporadically; dots; spots
to take seriously; to believe in; to fall for
dispersion; scattering; spreading out; diffusion
backdoor; rear entrance; rear exit; unauthorized; illicit; illegal
I'd be lying if I said ...
small amount; jot; nothing much; (to a) slight degree; wee bit
skeletal frame; skeleton; framework; frame; outline
to hang over; to cover; to lie over; to fall on one's shoulders; to become one's responsibility; to become a burden
entire world; whole world; world stage
development; growth; development (of a situation, story, etc.); advancement; playing around; having an active sex life
event; phenomenon; matter
physical law; laws of physics
loss; feeling of loss; Los Angeles
circulation; rotation; cycle; loop