as always; as ever; though it's always the case
to be lifted up (with a crane, ropes, etc.); to be raised; to be hoisted; to turn upward (esp. of eyes); to slant upward
first of all; at once; for now; for the time being; anyway; at least
brown; light brown; tawny
chain (bicycle, measuring, tire, etc.); chain (store, hotel, etc.)
to partition; to divide; to direct; to manage; to settle accounts; to assume a crouching posture (at the start of a bout)
rule; reign; government; governing
infection; contagion; becoming infected; being infected (e.g. with harmful ideas); being influenced (by)
to bud; to sprout; to arise; to begin to grow
to nip (something) in the bud
to reserve (for exclusive use); to charter; to book; to lend out completely; to lend out all of (something)
VIP; very important person
to have an idea; to have a clue
to squeeze; to wring out; to narrow down; to refine
description; describing; depicting
king; king; king (chess piece)
simmer; bubble out; flow out
to empty; to vacate; to evacuate
to be a bad influence (on something); to corrupt; to poison
to face each other; to be opposite one another; to be in opposition; to conflict
straight ball (pitch); direct (e.g. question); blunt
to pierce through; to break through
devising (a way); contriving; device; design; dedication to spiritual improvement (esp. through Zen meditation)
to stay on; to remain; to hold out; to stop (doing); to give up
to be entwined; to be involved
belt (worn around the waist); (machine) belt; belt; zone
flexibility; pliability; softness; elasticity
bending; warping; flexibility; pliability
inevitable; inescapable; unavoidable
to compete ruthlessly; (lit.) to sharpen swords
to make (the best) use of; to put to good use; to leverage (skills, attributes, experience, etc.); to restore (a deleted passage; in proofreading)
reckless; (at) random; haphazard; blind; sudden; abrupt
poor-quality; shoddy; unskillful; inexpert; unlucky
one line; one streak; one item (in an itemized form); one clause; one matter (affair, event, case, incident)
feeling in the hands (when striking, poking, etc.); (feeling of) resistance; response (to one's efforts); reaction; (having an) effect (on)
shortness of breath; panting; puffing; running out of steam (of the economy, a project, etc.); losing momentum; loss of efficiency