setback; failure (e.g. plans, business); frustration; discouragement
trusting too much; overestimating ability
too much; excessively; too
thoughtful; considerate; sensible; prudent; having good taste; discerning
to hit; to run into; to light on; to strike into; to come against; to deadlock
to shut; to close; to block (a street, entrance, etc.); to shut in (with snow, ice, etc.); to shut off; to consume (with negative feelings)
finally; at last; in the end; after all; never (happened)
to yield; to give in; to bend (knee, etc.); to subdue; to overpower; (arch.) to feel down
on countless occasions; many a time
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
to taste; to savor; to appreciate; to enjoy; to experience; to go through
state (of mind); mental state; field (of activity); one's lot; circumstance; place
to suck up; to pump up; to siphon off (profits, etc.); to exploit; to take up others' opinions, hopes, etc.
selection; choice; option
uncharted territory; unknown waters; unfamiliar terrain
to walk behind someone; to follow in someone's footsteps
last drink (of sake); last glass; last cup
still; much more; (not) yet; still a long way to go; still a long way off; not there yet
unripe; green; inexperienced; immature; unskilled
if you think about it; come to think of it
to perceive; to sense; to understand; to comprehend; to attain enlightenment
remote past; far ago; time immemorial
to think about; to send one's heart out to; to give more than a passing thought to; to think of something far away; to think nostalgically upon (esp. one's hometown)
to abuse; to exploit to the full; to give free rein to
one's home country; one's homeland
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
treasuring; cherishing; prizing; holding dear
high efficiency; high performance
broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
long (time that has passed); old (story)
to be caught in; to be stuck in; to stop by; to drop in for a short visit; to get mixed up in (trouble); to get entangled in (a problem); to fall for (a trick)
one's youth; early life; one's early days; one's early years
not quite (right); not very good; somewhat (lacking)
putting that aside; that said; apart from that; anyway; be that as it may
shortening; contraction; reduction; curtailment; abbreviation
drawing up (e.g. legal document, contract, will, etc.); preparing; writing; framing; making; producing
promise; agreement; convention; rule; destiny; fate