breaking off short (in one's speech); rendered speechless for a moment
desire for revenge; vengeful thoughts
to be flexible; to be accommodating
to arrive; to come to pass
leading; guiding; commanding
popular spot; popular place; popular location
to make lively; to enliven; to make exciting
half a loaf is better than none; (lit.) even a dead tree adds to the interest of a mountain
appearing in unexpected places and at unexpected moments; elusive; phantom
to play dumb; to feign ignorance; to play the fool; to be in one's dotage
to get distracted; to jump off the track
set phrase; stock phrase; conventional expression; usual wording; cliché; clichéd line
know-how; expertise; the ropes; the knack
rhythmical; rhythmic; well-paced
evening; early night hours
this and that; one thing or another
transformation; abnormality; sexual perversion; pervert; metamorphosis; transformation
smooth words make smooth ways; it's not what you say; it's how you say it
to collude (with); to conspire (with); to make friends with; to get along well with; to become intimate (with opposite sex); to establish a secret liaison (with)
to sweep away; to wash away; to dredge
sharp-eared; have sharp ears; picks things up fast
quite unlike; not bearing the slightest resemblance
to penetrate; to pervade; to spread
in terms of one's personality; personal; character (flaw, etc.)
heavy machinery; heavy equipment; heavy machine gun
defect; fault; flaw; deformity; deficiency; shortage
redoing; doing over again
destined; predestined; fated; fateful
business conditions; the market; good (economic) times; prosperity; liveliness; energy
building time; construction period
in any case; at all events; no matter how things turn out; whichever way it goes
to pose as; to (successfully) impersonate; to pretend to be; to (completely) become; to (fully) turn into
good times; boom; (wave of) prosperity
attack under the cover of darkness; surprise attack; sneak attack
to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge; to peck at (one's food); to pick at; to peck at (someone's faults, etc.); to egg on
earnings from a part-time job; part-time job pay
long-lasting; long-wearing; wears well; nagamochi; large oblong chest (for clothing, personal effects, etc.)
something or other; this and that; one thing this, another thing that; blah blah blah
to let out a cry; to break forth