instead; but (on the other hand)
indicates two contrasting actions; (arch.) indicates possessive (often found in place names and compound words)
in advance; beforehand; previously
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
washing; laundry; relaxing; taking a break
basket (shopping, etc.); hamper; cage
shrewdly; smartly; calculatingly; astutely; cunningly
... being the case; (precisely) because ...; as might be expected from ...
what I want to say is ...; the fact of the matter is ...; none other than ...
starting a business; promotion of enterprise
brush tip; first on a list; head; chief
tearing; ripping; crunching; munching; stiff; starchy; (working) hard
hesitation; bewilderment; illusion; delusion; inability to reach enlightenment
being painfully-true (e.g. reprimand); making one's ears burn; striking home (e.g. remark); having an earache; feeling pain in one's ear
to cut corners; to be shoddy
the future (usually distant); future tense; the world to come
momentous (crucial) decision
reasonable (person); obedient (e.g. child); doing what one is told
studying abroad; studying at a different school, etc. (usu. for a specific purpose)
anyway; either way; one way or the other; whichever; whatever
to weaken; to grow weak; to be downcast; to be dejected; to be troubled; to be at a loss
to act up (machine); to go out of tune (instrument); to not work right; to be knocked off stride; to lose one's bearings; to lose one's presence of mind
whispering; subdued; murmuring; dry and tasteless
one's best interests; one's own good
to put on airs; to act big; to throw one's weight about; to be overbearing; to be domineering; to be bossy
condescending attitude; arrogant attitude; looking down on
leaving one's own house (e.g. when going to war); departure; setting out; starting a new life; starting life anew
ready-made; common-law (wife)
to entertain; to make welcome
face; honour; meld; lineup (of players participating in a mahjong game); attendees (e.g. at a meeting); members
to keep; to preserve; to hold; to last; to endure; to keep well (food)
recipe; prescription (medical); how-to guide (e.g. crafts)
solitude; loneliness; isolation
new book; new publication
what the?; what's that?; what are you doing?; what's going on?
heh heh heh; tee-hee; giggle
approximate age; apparent age; marriageable age (esp. of a woman); age of maturity; appropriate age (to ...); old enough (to ...)
retort; sealed plastic pouch typically containing ready-made sauce or stew; boil-in-the-bag; retort; glass vessel used for distillation (now largely obs.)