to fan; to incite; to instigate
soon; shortly; before long; nearly; almost
bubble on surface of liquid; ephemeral; transient
to shorten the distance (between); to close the gap (e.g. on the leader); to get closer (e.g. to someone); to close in (on)
to take a step backward; to step back (i.e. to re-think something); to distance oneself (from); to behave humbly; to budge (a little); to make one concession
to herd; to drive; to corner; to force someone into doing; to go hard; to push yourself
confident; assured; self-assured; bullish (e.g. market)
to slap; to strike; to spank
to put in order; to arrange; to get ready; to prepare; to work out (e.g. business deal); to arrange (e.g. marriage)
to jar; to creak; to grate
pain; ache; soreness; damage; injury; wear
sudden; abrupt; unexpected; unforeseen
pair of lovers; girlfriend and boyfriend
squeak; cheep; slurp; sucking noisily; mouse
lightly (floating, drifting, etc.); buoyantly; soft; fluffy; unsteadily; flightily
to badger; to pester; to beg
to tumble down; to roll down
to struggle in the water; to sink below the surface and become unable to breathe; to (nearly) drown; to indulge in; to lose one's head over something; to be addicted
to shake off; to shake free from; to swing completely (bat, club, etc.); to take a full swing; to break off from (pursuer); to pull away
fall of the curtain; last scene; end of act
to be frugal; to be sparing; to value; to hold dear; to regret (e.g. a loss); to feel sorry (for)
gap; space; break; interlude; chink (in one's armor, armour); chance
thickheaded; insensitive; dull; thick-skinned
to read and understand; to take in; to sense from external cues; to read (someone's) mind; to read (calibration, tape, etc.); to scan (bar code)
unusual power; superpower; ability beyond that of humans
to house; to contain; to carry (a baby); to be pregnant; (arch.) to give lodging to; (arch.) to accommodate
anciently; formerly; old times; a long time ago
The Pillow Book (by Sei Shonagon)
race (of people); type of person
ordinary person; average person; man in the street; everyman; (a) nobody
without hesitation; without a qualm; at the drop of a hat
to stimulate; to stir up; to arouse
inside; within; while (e.g. one is young); during; among; amongst; in (secret, chaos, poverty, etc.)
to rub; to crumple; to massage; to argue; to have a heated discussion; to train; to coach
to rub together; to reconcile (ideas, proposals, plans); to compare and adjust
interval; space; valley; gorge; loophole (in a wall); crenel
expression; look; countenance; face
stupid; foolish; idiotic; fool; idiot; blockhead
to draw or pull something towards oneself (e.g. chair)