just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
to heat; to heat up; to get excited; to get worked up; to get fired up
cloth; fabric; dough; batter; inherent quality; one's true character; unglazed pottery
ticktock; chinking (e.g. of a hammer against rock); knocking; dry and hard; (frozen) stiff; hidebound
hitting the target; striking home; proving to be right; coming true; being on the mark
sputtering; smoldering; repeated thrusting into something (sword, needle, etc.); pricking repeatedly; mutterings of discontent; faint sounds of complaint
to get burned and stuck on (e.g. rice in a pan); to become uncollectable (e.g. debt or loan); to become irrecoverable; to remain unchanged (e.g. stock market)
(with) only a few left; (with) little left
sample; example; specimen; display model (e.g. plastic food models used by restaurants)
clincher; winning technique; official winning technique
molecule; numerator; element (of a group); member; particle
arranging; ordering; sequence (e.g. DNA sequence); arrangement; array
correct answer; right solution; correct interpretation; right decision; right choice; appropriate judgement
link; connection; filler; stopgap (job, budget, etc.); thickener (e.g. in cooking); thickening; hedging
to connect; to tie; to fasten; to transfer (phone call)
breadcrumbs; panko; bread flour
theory; doctrine; opinion; view; rumour; rumor
to connect; to link together; to tie; to fasten; to maintain; to preserve; to transfer (phone call)
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
to grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to come to grips with; to work hard on
that's a different matter; that's a different story
model; prototype; archetype; (sewing) pattern
to stop; to halt; to have (someone) stay; to put up (a guest); to fasten; to pin
meat dish; meat-based cuisine
standard item; usual thing; (a) classic; basic item (with stable demand); staple goods
people; men and women; each person; everybody
(young) girl; maiden; young lady
after many twists and turns; after much trouble
to tear to pieces; to tear to shreds; to pick (e.g. fruit); to pluck; to do ... heavily; to do ... heartily
safe (e.g. choice); secure; innocuous; acceptable; passable; satisfactory
garnish (e.g. vegetables with a meat dish); trimmings; fixings; relish
base; basis; base (e.g. military); depot; base; base bag
doubtful; questionable; uncertain; disputable; suspicious
staringly; scrutinizing; scrutinising
surreptitious glance; looking furtively
juicy (i.e. having lots of juice or liquid); Okinawan rice gruel meal
particularly; only; in the case of
affinity; compatibility; chemistry (between people)
special characteristic; special quality; trait; idiosyncrasy; peculiarity