stinging; smarting; on edge; nervous; ripping; peeling
even if ...; even supposing that ...
to speak distinctly; to speak clearly; to put it bluntly; to get to the point; to be frank
minute; micro; detailed; delicate; subtle
to spoil someone's start; to kill someone's enthusiasm; to take the wind out of someone's sails
slowly (but steadily); gradually; bit-by-bit; slowly soaking in; slowly permeating; oozing out
to not match well (e.g. at the seams); to not mesh properly (of gears); to differ (e.g. of opinions); to clash; to be in conflict (e.g. with the facts)
difference; discrepancy; variation
to understand (each other); to comprehend
to look down on; to make light of
feigned sleep; playing possum
he who laughs last, laughs best
to make a cynical remark (about); to make a sarcastic remark (about); to satirize; to mock
compression; condensation; constriction; compaction
as many as one likes; as much as one likes; great many; plenty; almost (none); (not) much
taking refuge; finding shelter; evacuation; escape; seeking safe haven
looking away; looking aside
particle; atom; little piece; not at all; not the slightest
heaven and earth; top and bottom
conceit; hubris; vanity; presumption
to bewitch; to confuse; to enchant; to delude
exhaled air; exhalation; expiration
saint; wise and virtuous person (esp. in Confucianism); great religious teacher; refined sake
common occurrence; everyday occurrence; not an uncommon case; normal thing; everyday affair
large hole; big deficit; heavy losses; long-shot win (in horse racing, etc.); big winnings (on a long shot)
to be gouged; to be hollowed; to become hollow
to drive in (e.g. nail, stake); to hammer in; to hit (a ball, etc.); to drive; to fire into (e.g. a crowd); to launch (e.g. missiles); to input (data)
to be extremely cautious; to be as sure as sure can be; to make assurance doubly sure
cheerful; buoyant; lighthearted
bringing certain death; deadly; knockout (blow)
to eat; to drink; to receive (e.g. a blow); to be on the receiving end (of something undesirable); to undergo (trouble)
making doubly sure; insurance run (baseball); points scored for good measure
scaffold; scaffolding; foothold; footing; foothold (e.g. in business); foundation
to have gooseflesh (e.g. from cold or horror)
great speed; extreme speed; swiftness
to act timid (about doing); to show diffidence; to feel ashamed; to feel guilty
one's cherished opinion; pet theory
military force; military strength