matter of hit-and-miss; mix of success and failure; variation (in quality, returns, etc.)
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
homework; assignment; pending issue; unresolved problem; open question
ray of light; ray of hope; promising talent
creepy (feeling); uneasy (feeling); bad (feeling); giving one the creeps; hideous; scaring
direct talks; direct negotiations; talking to someone in person
white person; Caucasian; (arch.) beginner; (arch.) amateur; (arch.) unlicensed prostitute
curiosity-seeking; bizarre (crime, etc.); grotesque; abnormal
half-hearted reply; vague answer; reluctant answer
stool (stood on to reach high objects); small stepladder; (fig.) stepping stone
to freeze; to refrigerate
oral; verbal; spoken; parol
gofer; dogsbody; person who is made to do things or get things for someone else
notification; pre-1886 administrative order
contract (for work); contracting; undertaking
anpan; bread roll filled with red bean paste; paint thinner (as an inhalant)
foreign car; imported car; paddle wheel
inadequacy; inappropriateness; unfitness; impropriety
snow scene; snowscape; snowy landscape
economical; efficient; lean; compact
outrageous; wild (ambition, idea, etc.); crazy; inordinate; extravagant (e.g. claims); audacious
privilege; special favor; special favour; benefit; prerogative; perk
after making the rounds; after having passed through many hands; after going through many places; eventually
queue jumping; breaking into a line; interrupt; wedge
replacement; substitution; change; shunting (rail); switching
sunbathing; basking in the sun
shaking (something) out; starting point; beginning; drawing (e.g. of a bill); issue; throw (of dice); infusion (remedy)