modus operandi; criminal technique; trick
winning over; placation; gentle persuasion
filling (up) a hole; filling in (for a gap, vacancy, etc.); stopgap; making up (for a loss, damage, etc.); covering (a deficit); cloze deletion (test format)
to benefit; to profit; to gain; to reap rewards
warehouse; storehouse; cellar; magazine; granary; godown
to go to ruin; to go under; to fall; to be destroyed; to die out; to become extinct
sound argument; fair argument; just reasoning
to plan one's next moves; to work out a plan
to plant oneself; to settle in; to be well-established (e.g. of a religion in a particular area); to have taken root
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
there is no way that ...; easy; simple
country; state; region; national government; central government; home (i.e. hometown, home country); (arch.) province (of Japan)
overthrow; defeat; bringing down; knockdown
target; object (of worship, study, etc.); subject (of taxation, etc.)
capital (esp. Kyoto, Japan's former capital); seat of government; capital (of music, fashion, etc.); city (e.g. of light); location of the Imperial Palace
predominance; superiority; ascendancy; advantage; supremacy
pride; boast; credit (to)
to do in place of or on behalf of (someone)
knob; handle; snack (to have with a drink); side dish; a pinch (e.g. of salt); (file) handle
young man; young woman; young people; youth; youngsters
intended for ...; oriented towards ...; aimed at ...
composition; construction; formation; makeup; structure; organization
commodity; article of commerce; goods; stock; merchandise
lawfulness; propriety; reasonableness; appropriateness; legality; legitimacy
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
falling into a doze; dozing off; nodding off
conversation; conference (usu. between important people); discussion; interview
just past noon; afternoon
to pinch; to hold (between one's fingers); to pick up and eat; to snack on; to pick out (the main point); to summarize
to cool down; to get cold; to cool off (excitement, temper, etc.); to subside; to be cold (eyes, expression, etc.); to be composed
to fish; to look for; to search for; to go on a spree (spending, reading, etc.); to binge
then; in that case; considering; if that is the case; if so
pending question; unresolved problem
to leave one's seat; to temporarily excuse oneself (from a meeting, etc.); to step outside; to be away (from one's desk, etc.)
real condition; actual circumstances; actual state of affairs
to rub together; to reconcile (ideas, proposals, plans); to compare and adjust