what did you just say (to me)?; what's that?
match; game; bout; contest
to be enthusiastic about; to be eager; to be keen
small fish; small fry; (a) nobody; small fry; unimportant person
to; for; from the standpoint of; as far as ... is concerned
to soothe one's soul; to raise one's spirits
mochi; (sticky) rice cake
dull; slow; stupid; dull-brained
and then; and so; and; so then
rich (taste); full-bodied (flavour, flavor); mellow; laid-back (lifestyle); relaxed; comfortable
mode (musical mode, mode of probability distribution, state of physical system); fashion
trembling; shivering; jiggling; wobbling; bouncing
(on a) closer look; closer scrutiny; second look
pains; hard work; effort; trouble; labour; labor
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
structure; construction; makeup; framework; organization; pattern
to hold back (e.g. emotions); to rein in (e.g. a horse, unruly people); to get the better of; to control; to command
one's own strength; one's own efforts; self-salvation
nonexistent; not being (there); not having; not
emission (of light); radiation (of light); luminescence
burly; strong; indomitable; indefatigable; robust (vitality, appetite, economic growth, etc.); strong
becoming a pupil (of); becoming an apprentice
intensely; severely; strictly; tightly; compactly; closely
fine food; high-quality food; gourmet; epicure; gastronome
without; but if; otherwise; or else
to disdain; to look down on; to make light of; to hold in contempt; to scorn; to despise
best (highest) record; new record
to flick out; to spring out; to calculate; to work out; to expel (from a group); to drive out
safety; security; safely; without incident; good health; inaction
within; inside of; less than
public acknowledgment; public acknowledgement; public recognition; commendation; awarding
monopoly; monopolization; exclusivity; hogging; keeping to oneself
given that ... it is only natural that ...; ... being the case, it is unavoidable that ...; (precisely) because ...; contrary to expectations ...
freebie (e.g. with a purchase); something additional; price reduction; discount; exaggeration
family; relatives; dependents; household
fighting bravely; strenuous efforts
noon; midday; daytime; lunch
to feel hungry; to get hungry
group; party; team; organization; organisation; association
to part (usu. of people); to part from; to separate (of a couple); to break up; to lose (e.g. one's mother); to be bereaved