black comedy; dark comedy
automatic fare adjustment machine
Chinese pond turtle (Chinemys reevesii); Reeves' turtle; stink bug; shield bug
joint liability on guarantee
coffee shop; coffeehouse; café
to twine (fibers to make rope); to twist
retainer fee (e.g. for a lawyer)
group dating; gathering for young people to socialize with the opposite sex
to go to the office; to be at work
one's heart; one's mind (feelings, bosom)
how dare you!; how can you have the nerve?
having very little difference between one another; being much of a muchness; being more or less the same; pointless competition (between two equally unimpressive parties); pissing contest
rabbit hutch; small Japanese houses; cramped Japanese housing
near bankruptcy; edge of bankruptcy; bumper-to-bumper
to be accustomed to reading
English-language newspaper
financing company; credit firm
to reminisce; to engage in a lively conversation; to discuss mutual interests
being in school; being a student of
debt trap; debt hell; being in debt up to one's ears
craving for food, a cigarette, etc.; longing to have something in one's mouth
answering question by question
cash payment; paying in cash
professional gambler; gangster; gang member; good-for-nothing; ne'er-do-well; hoodlum
pig farm; hog farm; piggery
no-bake cheesecake; gelatin cheesecake; unbaked cheesecake
to go straight to the point; to cut it short
debt collector; bill collector; repo man
in every way; in every aspect; from every angle
live-action adaptation (of a cartoon or animated movie)
aiming for laughs; trying to make people laugh; playing to the crowd; crowd-pleaser
like a pigeon who's been shot by a peashooter (i.e. wide-eyed in shock)
to soothe and humor (humour); to coax
entrepreneur; person who starts a new business
with difficulty; faltering; tottering; awkward