plain; frank; candid; open; direct; straightforward
hostility; antagonism; opposition
cold (to the touch); chilly; icy; (emotionally) cold; coldhearted; unfeeling
supposing; even if; granting that; temporarily; provisionally; for the time being
to take down; to bring down; to drop off (a passenger); to let off; to withdraw (money); to use for the first time; to wear for the first time
to frown (on); to be grim-faced; to look sullen
the minute (that) ...; no sooner than ...; as soon as; whether or not
stallion brought close to a mare to test her readiness to mate; stalking horse; spoiler
to stand watch; to stand guard; to look out; to open (one's eyes) wide
by the way; incidentally; even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how)
(villains) of the same stripe; birds of a feather; (lit.) badgers of the same hole
disliking people similar to oneself
complaint; grumbling; objection; phrase; words; expression
reset; fresh start; new beginning
habit; (social) custom; practice; convention
blue dragon (an auspicious creature in Chinese mythology); Azure Dragon (god said to rule over the eastern heavens)
episode; anecdote; vignette
subterranean rumbling; earth tremor
before very long; soon; someday; of the previously mentioned; of that number; among them
now (while the time is ripe); while one still can
to let something (or somebody) go past; to do too much
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
confrontation; to face; to confront; to encounter
persecution complex; paranoia
thinly; slightly; vaguely; a little
to sense; to suspect; to get an inkling (of something); to get wind of; to smell (e.g. danger); to become aware of (e.g. a plot)
miserable; disconsolate; helpless; cheerless; downhearted; dreary
bread; (sweet) pastry; staff of life; one's bread
crackling (of fire, fireworks, etc.); sparking; sputtering; to fight; to argue
to find somebody's weak spot; (lit.) to drill a hole
to abandon; to fail; to desert; to forsake
splish-splash; with a splash
at one's feet; underfoot; gait; pace; most recent; current
one o'clock; once; at one time; for a time; for a while; a time
achievement; attainment; accomplishment; realization
humanity; empathy; kindness; human nature; common sense; customs and manners
pride; self-confidence; thinking highly of oneself; being proud of one's abilities or achievements
brittle; fragile; weak; tender-hearted; sentimental; easily moved