to take measures; to take steps
dying breath; dying whisper; being at death's door
brilliance; luster; lustre; vividness; life
series of battles; successive battles
self-condemnation; self-reproach; self-accusation
regret; remorse; repentance; contrition
change to ...; becoming ...; making into ...; -ization; -ification
different (quality, nature); heterogeneous
rebellious phase; rebellious age
to be reflected; to harmonize with (harmonise); to come out (photo); to be projected; to be displayed (on a screen)
manageable; tractable; easy to care for; easy to deal with; easy to handle
(how) many times; (how) often
very; greatly; much; just about to; almost; very nearly
point in question (at issue)
difficult to ... (physically or emotionally); hard to ...
to have an interest (in something); to feel inclined (toward doing something)
expectation; anticipation; purpose; intention; others' opinions of one; speculation
clue; lead; key; handhold; hold
restriction; restraint; limitation; limit
essential; important; crucial; vital; main
pearls thrown before swine; unused possession; useless possession; waste of talent
filial piety; being kind to one's parents; taking care of one's parents
collection (of art, stamps, etc.); collecting; collection (i.e. a range of new clothes); fashion show
grabbing hold; eagle grip; tight hold
having sticky fingers; compulsive thievery; habitual movement of one's hands; marks from being handled often
to get cloudy; to cloud over; to cloud up; to fog up; to be gloomy; to be clouded (expression)
to finger; to touch; to make changes to; to tinker with; to dabble in; to do as a hobby
stamp; seal; seal impression; seal; mudra (symbolic hand gesture); ninja hand sign
up to now; so far; traditional; conventional; usual
another kind; different kind; distinct species
diversion (from one's worries, troubles, etc.); distraction; amusement
to trample down; to tread on; to ignore; to spurn
to be bloodcurdling; to be ghastly
to make a display of; to show off; to flaunt
double-edged (e.g. sword blade); double-beveled (e.g. kitchen knife); double-edged blade