fly in the ointment; small flaw in otherwise perfect object; only trouble; only fault
I wish I had ...; I should have ...; it would have been better if I had ...
to take the law into one's own hands
long sword cloth bag; bag for long swords
nature itself is a good mother; (lit.) even without parents, children grow up
the biggest fish is always the one that got away
to run through one's fortune (in idleness)
easy to drink; easy to swallow; quaffable
prank; practical joke; horseplay; mischievous trick
machination; secret plan; plot; trick up one's sleeve
to make out with; to make cozy with (cosy); to do at one's own discretion
no regrets; without regrets
to rub together; to reconcile (ideas, proposals, plans); to compare and adjust
right beside; close to; nearby
to strip; to peel; to tear off
defecating outdoors; faeces lying on the ground (feces)
not understanding; not knowing
effusiveness; gushing; shrillness
the boar, deer and butterfly cards (high-scoring meld); inoshikacho (type of hanafuda gambling game)
writing brush and inkstone; writing; composition; daily life of a writer
value; worth; virtue; blessing
before one knows it; without realizing; unawares; unnoticed
appearing to have; seeming to be
big-shot; influential person; happy face; smiling face; sympathetic attitude; getting along with
fishermen's banner hoisted to indicate a rich haul; big-catch flag
to be equal; to ostentatiously display that one is equal (to)
to stab; to thrust (into); to plant (in the ground); to stick upright
muddy; covered with mud; mud-caked