to shorten the distance (between); to close the gap (e.g. on the leader); to get closer (e.g. to someone); to close in (on)
how many people; a number of people
inconsequential; indifferent; not worth worrying about; whatever; whichever; I don't care
to take the form of (esp. in ref. to a spirit, fox, raccoon dog, etc.); to assume the shape of; to disguise oneself as; to change radically; to metamorphose; to improve unexpectedly and dramatically (esp. of an actor, artist, rikishi, etc.)
to rub; to crumple; to massage; to argue; to have a heated discussion; to train; to coach
invulnerability; immortality; insensibility to pain
desertion in the face of the enemy; deserting under enemy fire
while there is life, there is hope; without life, there is nothing; don't waste your life
bent back; indecisive attitude; timidity; lack of nerve
here and there; in twos and threes; sporadically; now and then; from time to time; occasionally
in accordance with; according to
last (i.e. immediately preceding); previous; pre- (e.g. premodern); before; before; earlier
common soldier; private; rank and file; small fry; underling
decisive blow; game-winning hit (e.g. in baseball)
little less than; slightly fewer than; just under; weakness; the weak
to turn aside adroitly; to dodge
rate; ratio; profit; assignment; 10%; unit of ten percent; match
how admirably; how wonderfully; how skillfully
until now; so far; up to the present
praise; admiration; commendation; approbation
duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff); liability; onus
originator; ringleader; perpetrator; main culprit; person responsible
to hang; to suspend; to dangle; to swing; to carry
to smoke; to smoulder; to be sooty; to be smoke-stained; to smoulder (e.g. a dispute); to smolder
(sense of) reality; realness; realism; authenticity; viability
many; numerous; various; large number of
dimly; faintly; absentmindedly; vacantly; idly; aimlessly
sluggish; languid; listless; bothersome; tiresome; pain-in-the-ass
to sigh; to breathe a sigh
to inhale; to breathe in; to suck up; to absorb; to soak up
just (now, at the moment, etc.); just as; in the act of; as soon as; at the moment that
nausea; sickness in the stomach
to unfold; to unroll; to open
earth; ground; place; territory; bottom (of a package, book, etc.); earth (one of the five elements)
right in the center (centre)
to stagnate; to settle (at the bottom); to deposit; to become sluggish; to become dull; to be delayed