thin veneer; hasty preparation; knowledge or skill learned as a stopgap; re-tempering a dull sword (so that it looks as if it's sharp, but is actually unusable)
zero; 0; nought; nothing; zilch
being empty-handed; being penniless; having no capital (for starting a business)
double; twice (as much); times (as much); -fold; 1-nth; 1 to n
to drive into (e.g. a nail into a board); to hit into (e.g. a home run into the stands); to throw into (e.g. jail); to drum into (someone) (an idea, skill, etc.); to hammer into
at the most; at best; to the utmost; as much as possible; as much as one can
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
to be shy; to be bashful; to feel awkward; to feel embarrassed
reserve; constraint; declining; refraining; forethought; foresight
to lend a hand; to give a hand; to help; to extend a helping hand
to joke; to jest; to make fun of; to laugh at; to romp; to gambol
to be needed; to be wanted
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
to pass (a car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to outdistance
crackling (of fire, fireworks, etc.); sparking; sputtering; to fight; to argue
rag; scrap; fault (esp. in a pretense, pretence); defect; run-down; shabby
black; black go stone; guilt; guilty person
scorch; burn; burnt rice; part of ceramic glaze that has become dark or darkish-brown during firing
to crumble down; to tumble down; to fall in
to scream; to whine; to grumble; to complain
funny; amusing; strange; odd; improper; unsuitable
instant; moment; (split) second; (in a) flash; (in the) blink of an eye
hit it off with (a person); find a kindred spirit in (a person); sympathy; mutual understanding
judgment (of a crime); conviction; condemnation; beheading; decapitation
feelings; thoughts; meaning
to use as an intermediary; to mediate; to assist; to worry; to mind; to care
side (of something, or taking someone's side); part; (watch) case
injustice; unfairness; wrongdoing; iniquity; impropriety; irregularity
petty underling; small fry
to spit out; to eject; to dump
to yield; to give in; to bend (knee, etc.); to subdue; to overpower; (arch.) to feel down
to jump over; to clear; to walk over (someone)
morale (of troops, team, etc.); esprit de corps
to want; to wish for; to request; to demand; to seek; to search for
modern times; the modern age; this day and age
to avoid meeting someone's gaze; to not look someone in the eyes
explanation (e.g. for one's actions); excuse; justification; defense; defence