to be transparent; to be easily seen through; to be obvious; to be apparent
way (of doing); manner; method; means
no problem; all right; not an issue; unobjectionable
rule; regulation; settlement; conclusion; habit; custom
mishearing; (feigned) deafness; homophonic translation of song lyrics for comic effect
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
serving (of food); helping; chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce
to speak; to say; to vocalize
to consider as; to regard (as equivalent); to deem (as); to equate
to explain away; to talk one's way out of; to excuse oneself; to evade
to smash; to crush; to shut down; to put out of business; to wreck; to break; to butcher
extent to which (something) is true or false; whether or not (something) is true
snakelike; snaky; serpentine
adaptation; accommodation; conforming; acclimatization; acclimatisation
internal (e.g. disk); built-in; equipped (with)
without; but if; otherwise; or else
materials; ingredients; material (for a novel, experiment, etc.); subject matter; grounds (for a decision, judgement, etc.); basis
you must be kidding; hey, come on!; surely not!
to withdraw; to leave; to retire; to back down; to give up
arguing back and forth; bandying words; verbal tug-of-war
to refuse; to reject; to inform; to give notice; to ask leave; to excuse oneself (from)
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
weight (e.g. paperweight); pressing down; keeping control; exercising authority; having self-control; exercising self-discipline
eternal well (i.e. one that never runs dry)
lovely; cute; charming; sweet
to be(come) intertwined; to be entangled
to leave as; to view as; to maintain the status quo
skirmish; brush (with the enemy); small fight with a military enemy; squabble; quarrel; brief argument
first move (in go, shogi, etc.); moving first; person with the first move; forestalling; (seizing the) initiative
defense; defence; safeguard; protection
ideal situation; ideal world; perfect world; utopia
to defend oneself; to protect oneself
to knock (ideas) against each other; to present competing ideas; to have a lively exchange of ideas; to smash together; to crash into each other; to throw at each other
splendid; praiseworthy; admirable; well done!; bravo!
to give up; to admit defeat; to throw in the towel
drop (e.g. of water); drip
as expected (positive events); as hoped for
stout; well-fleshed; well-built; well-padded; plump
on the occasion of; at the time of
to turn over; to turn pages of a book; to tear off; to strip off; to tear up
free; unrestricted; (with) complete mastery; completely in control
alternately; by turns; one after the other