rave reviews; extremely high praise
banter; raillery; ridicule; teasing; making fun of
vice versa; also the converse; reverse is true
hair on the back of one's head
to take back; to regain; to get back; to recover
combat; battle; action; active service; actual fighting
to make good use of one's spare moments; to weave one's way (e.g. through a crowd)
dots; spots; bit by bit; little by little; here and there; scattered
out of the question; outrageous; impossible; irrelevant; not pertinent
out (of a ball, in tennis, etc.); outside the line; out; putout; outer; external; exit
absurd; nonsensical; preposterous
competent; suitable; qualified
this is why; this means; it is the case that
to wake up; to awake; to perk up; to awaken (to the truth, etc.); to come to a realization; to come to one's senses
to be somewhat stylish; to be somewhat chic
after a long time; for the first time in a while
to jump upon (a moving object)
to cross one's mind; to be reminded
(repeated) side stepping (stamina test); side-step test
one's normal condition; one's usual state; keynote (esp. shamisen); proper key
to meet (by chance); to come across; to meet (e.g. of rivers, highways, etc.); to emerge and engage (an enemy)
strenuous effort; earnestness; seriousness
to be dead; to be lifeless
house hunting; searching an entire house; searching a house thoroughly
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
no matter how you put it; whatever the circumstances may be; say what you like; no matter how you look at it
stretching a rope around; roping off; one's turf; domain; territory (of an animal)
to barricade oneself in; to hold (a fort, etc.); to shut oneself up; to be besieged; to dig in
to feel irritated; to feel offended; to feel angry; to feel sick; to feel nauseous
to pinch; to hold (between one's fingers); to pick up and eat; to snack on; to pick out (the main point); to summarize
stroke; caress; soft (object); dreamlike (object); tender (object)
image; figure; figure; form; image
the other day; a few days ago
to go out (e.g. on an excursion or outing); to leave; to depart; to be about to leave; to be just going out
locking up (doors and windows); fastening the doors
to stay indoors; to be confined indoors
the person concerned; the person in question; the said person
derivative work (usu. unauthorized and produced by fans, e.g. dōjinshi, fanfiction)
even more; still more; further