battle formation; camp; encampment; group; gang; war
faking crying; crocodile tears
living thing; organism; creature; biology
major; large; the Major Leagues; Major League Baseball; major (key, scale, etc.); (oil) major
that's a different matter; that's a different story
passion; enthusiasm; zeal
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
just a handful; only a small number (of)
debut; doing something for the first time; starting anew; starting afresh
weeding out; elimination (e.g. of unneeded employees); culling; selection (e.g. natural selection)
to be shrewd; to be sharp; to keep your wits about you; (lit.) to pluck out the eye of a live horse
to accumulate one's unpublished paintings or writings
words; writing; ci (form of Chinese poetry); independent word
to rally; to make a comeback
producer (film, TV, etc.)
to use as a pretext; to use as an excuse
to begin to appear; to begin to come in
to sink deeply into one's mind; to come home to; to go to one's heart; to pierce one's body (e.g. of wind, cold, etc.)
the way back; the way home; return trip
washing; laundry; relaxing; taking a break
to dream (i.e. while asleep); to have a dream; to dream (of the future); to have a fleeting experience
to throw at; to throw something at a person; to throw a person down
paying; remunerative; advantageous; profitable
exhausted; tired; withered; worn out; boiling until shapeless or mushy; tediously
paying back in installments (instalments); amortization plan (amortisation); gradual demolition; gradual erosion; gradual dismantlement
cost of fuel and lighting; cost of heat and electricity; energy bill; utility cost
free alcohol; free liquor; free drinks
office work; clerical work; administration; business; affairs
retirement (from work); leading a quiet life (after retirement); retired person; retiree; surrendering headship of the family (pre-WWII)
to give birth; to bear (child); to lay (eggs); to produce; to yield; to give rise to
sense of isolation; (feelings of) loneliness
to raise; to rear; to train; to teach; to promote the growth of; to nurture
setback; failure (e.g. plans, business); frustration; discouragement
to become blunt; to grow dull; to become less capable; to weaken; to falter
to bear up in tragedy; to stand pain well; to hold one's temper; to clench one's teeth; to grit one's teeth
heavy-footed; slow of foot; reluctant; disinclined; unwilling
to the limit; to the full; as much as possible; with all one's might
swing; shake; appearance; behaviour; pretence (pretense); show; going to restaurant, hotel etc. without a reservation or introduction
on hand; readily available
to slap; to strike; to spank
waste; scrap; garbage; scum; piece of trash; loser