middle of summer; height of summer; midsummer
abnormal phenomenon; anomaly
chaos; turmoil; pandemonium; havoc
cutting to pieces; tearing to pieces
railroad; railway; rail transport
genuine; real; full-scale; full-blown; full-fledged; professional
(Oh) dear!; (Oh) dear me!; Good gracious
terrain; geographical features; topography
ruins (of a building, town, etc.); remains
manipulation of information; spin
measure; step; countermeasure; counterplan; countermove; strategy
conference; consultation; discussion; negotiation
somehow; how; in what way; why; what kind of
to act as one; to act in concert; to keep pace; to stay in step
to come uninvited; to crash (a party); to butt in
to pretend to be tough; to put on a brave front; to whistle in the dark; to bluff
at a disadvantage; in an unfavourable position; having poor prospects; standing little chance
to render futile; to bring to naught; to waste; to not make good use of
going round in circles; game of cat and mouse; pointless and repetitive back-and-forth; itachigokko; Japanese children's game
terrific; staggering; tremendous; frightful; ghastly; horrific
indicates supposition; if ... then; when; (typically after someone's name) indicates exasperation
remote control; remote operation
to fully understand and agree; to be convinced; to be fully satisfied (with an explanation)
worry; fear; anxiety; concern
apprehensions; misgivings; uneasiness; anxiety; fear
dangerous; risky; in danger; in jeopardy; uncertain; unreliable
great disaster; horrible tragedy; catastrophe; catastrophic event; catastrophic incident; dire calamity
by the way; incidentally; sometimes; occasionally; precisely (at that time); exactly
to launch a surprise attack
way (of doing); manner; method; means
annihilation; total destruction; complete destruction; crushing defeat
conclusion; decision; end; settlement
to be lucky; to be in luck; to be attached; to have; to be included
flower; blossom; cherry blossom; beauty; blooming (esp. of cherry blossoms); ikebana; hanafuda
mama; mamma; mom; female proprietress (of a bar, etc.)
to jump in; to leap in; to plunge into; to burst in; to barge in
to prick up one's ears and listen; to listen attentively
indicate reason; infers some protest
another place; somewhere else; outside (one's family or group); someone else; not caring for; being indifferent to