beginning; outset; first; onset
barrier; obstacle; difficulty; hurdle; deadlock
drawing room; parlour; parlor; reception office
to let pass; to allow through; to transmit (e.g. light, sound, etc.); to conduct (electricity); to stick through (e.g. a hole); to force through (e.g. an opening); to connect (e.g. two places)
gorgeous; gaudy; dazzling; gay; resplendent
interior design; interior; upholstery
valuable; worthwhile; worthy; worth doing
it's been a long time; long time no see
fresh; refreshing; invigorating; clear (voice); fluent (speech); eloquent
by all means; at any cost; whether (one is) willing or not; willingly or unwillingly; on no account; by no means
suspicious-looking; shady; questionable; dubious; fishy
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
way; method; means; (technical) specification
so; therefore; and; (and) then
business; thing to be done; something that should be performed; information that should be conveyed
to cut deep into; to cut one's way into (an enemy position); to rush on; to press someone hard (e.g. with questions); to get to the heart of (a matter)
to feel nostalgic for the past; to look back fondly on the old days; to yearn for days gone by
to warm (up); to heat (up); to sit on (an idea, plan, etc.); to keep to oneself; to renew (an old friendship); to take for oneself
feeling; sense; impression
after a long time; for the first time in a while
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
very much; exceedingly; extremely
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); just like (someone)
assistant; associate; duplicate; copy; adverb
naturally; of course; understandably
bitter smile; wry smile; forced smile; strained laugh
rumour; rumor; report; hearsay; gossip; common talk
information; news; information (data contained in characters, signals, code, etc.); informatics (as a subject)
to seize; to catch; to obtain; to acquire; to understand; to grasp
merchant; trader; tradesman; dealer; shopkeeper
feature; trait; characteristic; peculiarity; distinction
going in and out of style; changes in fashion
trade; business; trading; turnover; sales; takings
before; prior to; ago; the past; before; previously
to drop; to lose; to clean off (dirt, makeup, paint, etc.); to remove (e.g. stains or facial hair); to lose (a match); to reject (an applicant); to lower (e.g. shoulders or voice)
natural; right; proper; naturally; as a matter of course; rightly
riot; rebellion; (media) uproar; brouhaha; feud; tussle
how about ...?; what about ...?; I wonder; I don't know
to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
with a click; with a snap
soft; weak; fragile; poorly built; insubstantial
to freeze; to become frozen; to freeze over
inside the breast of one's clothing (esp. kimono); bosom; space between one's chest and outstretched arms; (one's) reach; heart (e.g. of a mountain); bosom (e.g. of nature)