selfish; egoistic; self-serving; self-interested
unexpectedly; surprisingly
allocation; assignment; allotment
to stick (to); to cling (to); to adhere (to); to stay (in a place); to stick close (to someone); to follow (someone) around
to make progress; to develop; to evolve (method, style, etc.)
written oath; covenant; pledge
act of treachery; breach of faith; stab in the back; double-cross
to feign ignorance; to pretend to be ignorant of; to play innocent; to brazen it out
true state; actual condition; reality
tingling; stinging; pungently
to overestimate (someone); to overrate; to think too highly of; to make too much of; to give (someone) too much credit
to snatch (and run); to carry off; to swipe; to scoop up (and remove; sand, earth, etc.)
halving; dividing (into two parts); bisection; the two equinoxes (vernal and autumnal)
joint struggle; common (united) front
being stark-naked; having no possessions; losing all one's belongings
to backfire; to have a harmful result
down to earth; reasonable; able to deal with
intricate workmanship; delicate handiwork; cheap trick; petty trick; obvious stratagem
to impose; to visit upon; to inflict
bid rigging; collusion (on contract bidding); (illegal) price-fixing agreement; consultation; discussion; conference
shameless; brazen and unscrupulous
title (e.g. Doctor, Professor, Lord); job title; position (in a company); degree; status; rank
(moment of) departure; (upon) leaving; retirement
to prowl after; to keep watch on
dragon (esp. a Chinese dragon); naga; semi-divine human-cobra chimera in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; promoted rook
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
tenacity; persistence; obsession; implacability
until now; till now; up to now; up to the present; so far
quick change (of costume); quick transformation; turning suddenly into; (sudden) metamorphosis
end (of play, match, etc.); closing; closing a pachinko machine (after it has paid out its designated maximum)
hostility; antagonism; opposition
imperfect; incomplete; faulty; defective
to misfire; to come to naught; to end in failure; to fizzle out; to fall flat
left utterly helpless; have no one to turn to; unapproachable
will; desire; eagerness; interest; drive; motivation
to sew; to stitch; to weave one's way (e.g. through a crowd)
in short; in brief; to sum up; ultimately; in the end; in the long run
standard practice; playing by the book; established tactic; joseki (jōseki); standard sequence of moves (esp. in a corner)
to do one's best; to put forth every effort
to achieve; to win; to gain; to attain
to keep up (appearances); to put up (a good front); to smooth over (a mistake, fault, etc.); to gloss over; to mend; to repair
to win and advance to the next round