trying to think of a way (to do); devising means (to do); working out (how to do); contriving (to raise money); managing
disagreeable; unpleasant; adverse; unsympathetic
puppet; marionette; puppet (person, organization, government, etc.); figurehead; (arch.) prostitute
censure; denunciation; (verbal) attack; blaming
great rival; powerful enemy; archenemy
to pour into; to wash down (food); to insert (e.g. into a data stream); to integrate
to commit (e.g. crime); to perpetrate; to break (e.g. rule); to violate; to rape; to violate
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
late winter; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
weather; fair weather; fine weather
custom; practice; convention; precedent
ambition; aspiration; sinister designs; treachery
father and mother; parents
as one wishes; as one wants; to one's satisfaction
billiards; pool; serial collisions (of cars)
status elevation; upgrading; promotion
at a young age; while still young
to succeed; to relieve; to take the place of; to substitute for; to be exchanged; to change (places with)
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
locked up feeling; cooped up feeling; feeling of entrapment; feeling of hopelessness; being in a bind
reaching; attaining; arrival
refreshing (e.g. feeling, scene, wind, morning air); brisk; bracing; fresh; refreshed
to go to the top; to climb to the top; to ascend to the top; to be engrossed in; to be very enthusiastic about; to be infatuated with
gnashingly (e.g. gritting one's teeth); with a grinding sound; with a creak
payment (to the government, authorities, etc.); land tax (often paid in rice); tribute
famous product; widely known (local) specialty
to let go of; to release; to part with (e.g. a possession); to relinquish; to send away (e.g. one's child); to let go
gossip; corner of the mouth
medicine; the healing art; healing; doctor
diagnosis; medical examination
illness; disease; bad habit; weakness; fault
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
to provide momentum; to give a boost to; to encourage; to spur; to stimulate