hmmm; uh-huh; murmur indicating approval, comprehension, etc.
tedium; boredom; dullness; to feel bored; to get bored with; to get tired of
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
to think of; to hit upon; to come into one's mind; to remember; to recall
though; notwithstanding; although
to suddenly understand (esp. on basis of experience or memory); to come to mind; to recall (in a flash); to be reminded of; to call to mind; to think of
announcement; presentation; demonstration; displaying; showing; introducing
site; point on a map; spot
excessively spacious; unduly wide; sprawling
forever; endlessly; on and on; meandering; wandering; winding
unfathomable; inestimable; immeasurable
to smash; to crush; to shut down; to put out of business; to wreck; to break; to butcher
when it comes to ...; where ... is concerned; if it's the case that ...; if it turns out that ...; if it's true that ...
battle of wits; contest of wits
tenacity; persistence; obsession; implacability
to track down; to locate; to find out; to smoke out; to ferret out; to chase up
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am
not only ... (but also); not just; as well as
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
to go ahead; to pull ahead
really; very; extremely; (not) anything; (not) at all; (not) a bit
happy; glad; pleased; joyful; delightful; gratifying
munching; crunching; scratching (an itch)
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about
to repeat; to do something over again
(how) many times; (how) often
force; vigor; influence; authority; impetus; momentum
to peek (through a keyhole, gap, etc.); to look down into (a ravine, etc.); to peek into (a shop, bookstore, etc.); to sneak a look at; to take a quick look at; to peep (through a telescope, microscope, etc.); to stick out (a scarf from a collar, etc.)
floor; stage (for the narrator and the shamisen player); dining platform built across a river
finally; at last; in the end; after all; never (happened)
no hint (e.g. quiz questions where no clues are given)
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
to become fine (of fabric); to be checkmated; to be hard pressed; to be at a loss
anywhere; for all time; through thick and thin; come hell or high water; persistently; stubbornly
stubbornness; obstinacy; disposition; nature; appetite; desire
honest; frank; candid; honestly; frankly
challenge; defiance; dare; attempt; try
memory; ability to remember
to find out; to discover; to detect