dealt hand consisting of one 20-point card and six 1-point cards; outstanding; standing out above the rest
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
union; alliance; combination; RENGO (Japanese Trade Union Confederation)
leader (of an alliance); leading power
origin; genesis; opening; start; beginning
to do (something) to spite (someone); to rebuke indirectly; to make an insinuation; to make a display of affection (for each other); to show off a relationship
self-conceit; self-satisfaction; self-righteousness; self-importance; complacency
winning over; placation; gentle persuasion
impossible to do (although wants to)
like everyone else; like most people; like an ordinary person; as much as anyone else
anything; whatever; whatever one likes
disgust; hate; repugnance; loathing
self-satisfied look; triumphant expression
not knowing when to give up; being a bad loser; poor at letting things go; unable to accept the inevitable
birds of a feather flock together
looks (esp. of a woman); features; ability; capability; (public) estimation (esp. of a man); credit
narrow; confined; small; limited; narrow-minded; confining
to have a rumor circulating
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
a piece; a scrap; a fragment; iota; modicum; trace
amplification (elec.); magnification; amplification; making larger
basket (shopping, etc.); hamper; cage
otherwise; if not; or else
thoroughly; completely; severely; harshly; (arch.) scattered; (arch.) disconnected
several sheets (flat objects)
long; drawn-out; very long
end; tip; extremities; terminal
account of a dream; fantastic story; wild tale; empty dream
wealthy; rich; affluent; well-off
to pay for another; to pay someone else's debt as a loan to him; to make temporary payment on a person's behalf
income; receipts; revenue
property; fortune; means; assets
from out of nowhere; from who knows where