foundation; base; basis; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature
developing (e.g. industry, town, economy)
a cut above; one step above
to pull up; to drag up; to increase; to raise (e.g. taxes); to withdraw; to leave; to promote (someone to a higher position)
direction; orientation; bearing; course (e.g. of action)
betterment; improvement; kaizen (Japanese business philosophy of continuous improvement)
present stage; current phase; current rank; present grade
to give up (something as hopeless); to throw in the towel
unnecessary; not needed; not necessary
to come to nothing; to be in vain; to lead nowhere
to take down in notes (meeting minutes, etc.); to apply (concepts, ideas, etc. to specific processes or methods); to drop into something (e.g. a bag); to entice; to lure
anyone; anybody; everyone; whoever
equation; formula; ceremony; style; (arch.) enforcement regulations (of the ritsuryo)
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); still; all the same; even ... (e.g. "even a genius")
being settled quickly; reaching a quick conclusion; no need to say any more; no problem
to put to use; to make good use of; to exploit
now rejoicing, now worrying; swinging from joy to sorrow; glad and sad by turns; alternating hope and fear; unable to put one's mind at ease
proficiency; mastery; becoming proficient (in)
expansion; extension; enlargement; escape; ESC
at the most; at best; to the utmost; as much as possible; as much as one can
groping (for); fumbling around (for); searching (for an answer, solution, etc.); trying to find
difficult to ...; hard to ...
wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting)
to hurry (up); to urge on; to press; to rush
how about ...?; I wonder; I don't know
trouble; problem; mess; difficulty; nuisance
to be in the news; to be talked about; to become a popular topic of conversation; to become the talk of the town; to become topical
to take offense; to take offence; to get angry; to lose one's temper
surprise attack; sneak attack; foul play
cannot suppress one's anger; cannot stomach
to go to; to proceed to; to leave for
at a proper time; at a suitable occasion; at the correct moment; when the time is right
keep ...-ing; have been ...-ing; leaving (something) on; leaving (something) still in use
severe; harsh; stringent; rigorous; strict; unfair
independent action; acting alone
prejudice; bias; distorted view
to be found; to be discovered
dangling; hanging; suspended; pending; half done; in limbo
to fire oneself up; to give it one's all; to get psyched; to fire someone up (with scolding, corporal punishment, etc.); to rouse
murmur; mutter; murmuring; tweet; Twitter post
intelligence gathering; information gathering
means of making contact; intermediary; go-between; connections; influence; pull