stamp (postage); merchandise certificate
fleeting; transient; short-lived; empty (dream, etc.); mere (hope); faint (possibility)
inscription; epitaph; (manufacturer's) engraved signature; motto; maxim
at first; in the beginning; originally
counterattack; slashing back; railway switchback; twisting backward knee trip
to stand upright with arms and/or legs spread; to dodge
with a whiff; with a puff; suddenly; abruptly; without warning
putting an end to; bringing to a close; person who opens and closes the curtains (in a theatre)
one's own strength and skill alone (without money, connections, etc); nothing to rely on but oneself; (being) self-made
impossible to do (although wants to)
quick pace; quick steps; quick march; trot (horse gait)
poor (living); barely continuing; just scraping along; very narrow
armed group; armed insurgents
to roughen (e.g. one's attitude); to raise (one's voice)
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
halfway up (down) a mountain; mountainside
(military) unit flag; unit colors
physical; relating to stamina; in terms of physical strength
to make light of; to ignore; to slight
carrier pigeon; homing pigeon
enough; sufficient; plenty; sufficiently; fully; thoroughly
face-to-face talk; direct communication; direct dialogue; direct talk
red clay; red earth; laterite; dark-red paint
since long ago; already; for quite a while; for some time now
to work together (in the same class, workplace, etc.); to be classmates; to sit side by side; (lit.) to put (one's) desks side by side
to fetter; to shackle; to bind
questioner; interrogator; interpellator
tone of voice (e.g. in a sweet tone); timbre
comfortably warm; steaming hot (food); piping hot; glowing (with warmth)
leadership conference; summit meeting; top-level conference
age-appropriate (esp. of clothing, hairstyles)
decrepitude; (being) rickety; (state of) falling apart; looseness (in machinery); play
rough-hewn; incomplete; unrefined; still in the process of being formed