returning to the service of one's master
political maneuvering; politicking; political machinations
a long time ago; long before now
at the present time; as of now; at this time
maintaining the status quo
verbal promise; one's word
disappearance; vanishing; loss; dying away; wearing off
speaking without thinking; words spoken without much thought
insisting (unreasonably); obstinate insistence
to read thoroughly; to read repeatedly; to express (e.g. emotion in poetry); to read (extra meaning) into (something); to fetch (e.g. CPU inst.); to read (data into a system)
quotation; citation; reference
simile; metaphor; allegory; parable
to glide; to slide (e.g. on skis); to fail (an examination); to bomb (when telling a joke); to drop; to go down
new and old; incoming and outgoing
matter of the highest priority; top priority; first priority
inheritance; bequest; legacy; heritage
cooperation; coordination; link
to collect oneself; to cool off; to recover oneself
bitterness; distress; pain; bitterness and astringency
initial response (e.g. to a crisis); action in the earliest stages; initial shock (of an earthquake); preliminary tremor
rate; ratio; proportion; percentage
utmost limits; extremity; limit
to go back to the start; to reset; to restore; to return to the point (of a discussion); to return something (that has been moved) to previous place; to reconstitute
laughingstock; object of ridicule
to overcharge; to rip off
to come to a dead end; to come to a standstill; to reach a deadlock; to reach an impasse; to reach a stalemate
manjū; steamed yeast bun with filling
who on earth; just exactly who; who the heck
advance warning; previous notice; announcement; herald; harbinger; forerunner
everyday life; daily life
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; difficulty