aim; object; expectations; prospects; something that can be relied upon; snack served with alcoholic drink; pad
hot topic; talk of the town
180 degrees; complete (about-face; in policy, opinion, etc.); radical (change); hundred-and-eighty degree (turn)
to extract; to pull out; to draw out; to headhunt; to lure away; to poach
change; alteration; modification
life; lifetime; career; for life; all one's life; throughout one's life
to bear fruit; to ripen; to produce (good) results; to show results; to bear fruit
from behind the scenes (cheer, pray, etc. for someone); from the sidelines; from a distance; secretly; in secret
aid; assistance; help; cheering; rooting (for); support
to be thoroughly attracted by; to be completely fascinated by
even though; despite; when
contents; content; substance; matter; detail; import
(complete) destruction; annihilation; devastation
to lose hope; to be plunged into darkness
idea; plan; draft; rough copy; expectation; (arch.) desk
casually; nonchalantly; easily; without difficulty; as if nothing had happened
plan to overcome an obstacle or break out of a deadlock; breakthrough solution
operation; management; handling; manipulating (to one's benefit); manipulation; influencing
to be expensive; to be costly
difficulty; hardship; trouble; infeasibility; inability (to carry out)
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
to escape from; to get out
clean sweep; purging; doing away with; eradication
now (esp. in contrast to the past); now at last; at present; right now
bravery; military prowess; valour; valor
self-awareness; awareness (of one's position, abilities, duty, etc.); perceiving (something); taking in (a sensation); self-consciousness
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
visiting room; visitation room
to set foot into; to enter; to step inside; to cross the threshold
backlight (in photography, etc.); illumination (of the subject) from behind
to be sad; to mourn for; to regret
chief; main; principal; major
regular; ordinary (e.g. session of parliament); established usage; precedent; regular practice
cooperation; collaboration; help; support
to show signs of ...; to have the appearance of ...
safe (e.g. choice); secure; innocuous; acceptable; passable; satisfactory
to hesitate to say; to hem and haw; to falter in one's speech; to be stuck for a word; to mumble
certificate; certified document; (the) thumbs up; seal of approval; paper with signature of the shogun or lord
double-dealing; double tongue; going back on what one has said; repeating oneself
to hear a rumor; to get wind of
cleaner; janitor; (arch.) night soil gatherer