secondary residence; vacation home; villa
at the point of death; almost dead; about to die; at some limit (pain, hunger, etc.)
situation of one's own doing
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
novel for the masses; popular fiction; pulp
the two leading actors (in a play); the two star players; the two distinctive features; the two main items (attractions)
(not) a single person; (no) one
written language; literary language; classical (or formal) written style based on Heian-period Japanese
to take a commission; to take a cut; to take a piece of the action; to take a kickback
crash; smash; crunch; bang; breaking sound
untamed horse; unbroken horse; wild horse; bronco
something or other; what-do-you-call-it; what-do-you-call-them; blah blah blah; yada yada yada
poisonous air; poisonous gas; poisonous ingredient; poisonous nature; malice; spite
sun shower; sudden rain from a blue sky
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
Mare Nubium (lunar mare); Sea of Clouds
temper pattern of a sword blade
to listen again; to ask again
foot of a mountain; base of a mountain; foothills
to be contrary to one's expectations
to backfire; to have a harmful result
New England (US, Australia)
iai; art of drawing one's sword, cutting down one's opponent and sheathing the sword afterwards; iai sword-drawing performance (used during the Edo period to sell medicine and other wares)
gender identity disorder; GID; gender dysphoria
almighty; highest valued card (e.g. ace of spades); wild card
holding down (esp. in judo); holding technique; pinning down; immobilizing; bringing under control
nothing ventured, nothing gained; (lit.) you will not get the tiger cub without entering the tiger's den