to machine; to cut; to scrape
joint; link; knot; tie-together point
basic tone; underlying tone; trend; keynote
on a stage; on a platform; on an altar
to bring to naught; to bring to nought; to abuse (esp. another's kindness); to empty; to clear
loser; failure; underdog; unmarried and childless older woman
commemorable; worth commemorating; momentous; monumental
to devote oneself wholeheartedly to; to sacrifice one's health for; to risk one's life
let me humbly say; most humbly; with all due respect
negligence; carelessness; incompetence; mismanagement
to improve one's skill (esp. at calligraphy or drinking larger amounts of alcohol)
voluntary; optional; free; elective
program (e.g. theatre, theater); programme; (theatrical) piece; number; performance
party; banquet; reception; feast; dinner
sliver of hope; gleam of hope; ray of hope
to participate in; to take part in; to play a part in; to receive; to be given; to enjoy
feeling keenly; fully realizing
unpleasant; disagreeable; nasty; lewd; lascivious; obscene
on the other hand; at the same time
intensely; severely; strictly; tightly; compactly; closely
pouring one's energy into; focusing one's efforts on; concentrating on; committing oneself to
repetition; repeat; replication; recursion; iteration
hotel charge; lodging expense
wholesale price; trade price
spoils of war; booty; war trophy; something one managed to obtain or buy (at a bargain sale, merchandise stall, etc.); purchases; prizes (at an arcade, etc.)
inquiry commission; enquiry commission; research group
treacherous; dangerous; untrustworthy; sneaky; cunning
reason; significance; cause; piece of information that one has heard; I hear that ...; it is said that ...
passing each other (without meeting); entering somewhere just after someone had left; coming in just as someone had gone out; inserting in the wrong order
to manage; to control; to supervise; to crack down on; to keep under strict control; to enforce
(not) in any way; (not) at all; (none) whatsoever; what kind of
decrease; reduction; fall; depreciation; mitigation
count; counting; count of balls and strikes; count (after a knock-down); count (of radioactivity)
quite a chore; not that easy; fairly difficult
military forces; army; troops; number of soldiers
literature; books (reference); document
defective item; defective product; defective merchandise
result (that makes an act worthwhile); worth (in doing something); value; effect; use; benefit