prior investment; upfront investment
seriousness; earnestness; truth; sanctity
stealing a march on; getting a head start; secretly acting before others; solo raid on an enemy's camp (for glory)
master (of a house, shop, etc.); husband; sir; boss; patron of a mistress, geisha, bar or nightclub hostess; sugar daddy
to scatter away; to fly away; to blow away; to be removed without trace; to vanish
to bear a grudge against; to resent; to blame; to curse; to feel bitter towards
domestic discord; internal discord; internal strife; internal struggle; infighting
participation in a war; going to war; taking part in a competition or contest
being excluded; being ignored; being kept in the dark (about); being kept out of the loop; (lit.) outside the mosquito net
someone; a certain person
juice; sap; soup; broth; (dipping) sauce
oh my god!; oh my gosh!; you got me!; wow!
to turn completely into; to become completely
to cut down (grass, etc.; by swinging a sickle, scythe, etc.); to mow
spring; springtime; New Year; prime (of life); height (of one's prosperity); adolescence
(tear) to pieces; (rip) apart; with a rattle; with a shudder; feeling an electric shock
equal match; good match; fair match; equal in ability; being a worthy rival
vacantly; blankly; openmouthed; with one's mouth wide-open; with a whack; with a thump
to plunder; to grab; to snatch
master; teacher; stable master
to have a taste for; to be fond of; to enjoy (in moderation); to be modest; to be prudent; to watch (e.g. one's behaviour)
to long for; to yearn for; to hanker after; to be attracted by; to be drawn to; to aspire to
weathering; fading (of memories); efflorescence
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 build; to construct; to put up; to build up (a fortune, reputation, enterprise, etc.); to establish (a relationship, system, etc.); to create
three (long cylindrical things); three-of-a-kind (in a dealt hand)
close adhesion; sticking firmly (to); relating closely (to); having relevance (to); contact printing
creaking; squeaking; packing in tightly; cramming; hard (pressing, tying, twisting, etc.); tightly
elbowroom; leeway; room; reserve; margin; allowance
above anything else; above all; more than anything; best; greatest; excellent
ha ha ha; hee hee hee; chuckling
assistance; help; aid; support; reinforcement
unfortunately; regrettably
fellow women; between women; among women; woman-to-woman
fellow men; between men; among men; man-to-man
that way; that direction; that (one); that person; there; over there