to speak frankly; to speak unreservedly; to open up to each other; to talk candidly; to speak by laying everything on the table; to talk straight from the gut
to give off sparks; to spark; to scintillate; to have a heated argument; to combat; to do something fiercely
at last; finally; barely; narrowly; just
invincible; unrivaled; unrivalled; matchless; unbeatable; undefeatable
ordinary; average; common; normal; like the average person; like most people
to be wounded; to get injured; to get hurt feelings; to get damaged; to get chipped
anywhere; for all time; through thick and thin; come hell or high water; persistently; stubbornly
to work too hard; to try too hard; to strain oneself; to overdo it; to go too far
to bear up in tragedy; to stand pain well; to hold one's temper; to clench one's teeth; to grit one's teeth
you're welcome; don't mention it; not at all; my pleasure
pair; the two; both persons; both things
weir; bonds; fetters; ties of obligation
to come loose; to come untied; to come undone; to loosen up (e.g. tension)
(apparently) that's what it's like, isn't it
lesson; precept; teachings; moral
natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder
imitation; copy; make-believe; doing something in a way that only superficially resembles the real thing
look; glimpse; apparently; seemingly; (arch.) first meeting
to be able to tell apart; to distinguish; to recognize
return; relapse; recurrence
pachinko; mechanical gambling game superficially resembling pinball; slingshot; catapult; pistol
household head; master; host (e.g. of a tea gathering); husband
wife; your wife; his wife; married lady; madam
assistance; backing; reinforcements
speech and conduct; words and deeds
to draw back; to sink; to be set back (e.g. from a road); to withdraw (e.g. from the public eye); to retire to (somewhere)
any; anything; whatever; I am told; I hear; I understand
unwillingly; grudgingly; shaking head in refusal (like a child); no!; no no!
such; this sort of; like this
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
together (of two people); both (of you, them, etc.)
to scorn; to despise; to hold in contempt; to look down on; to disdain
appetizer or snack served with drinks; performance to liven up a bar; conversation to liven up a party
natural; reasonable; obvious; usual; common; ordinary
knowing when to give up; good at letting things go; accepting failure with good grace; being a good loser
to become twisted; to grow distorted; to get sulky; to sulk; to grow bitter; to become embittered
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
fault; defect; flaw; failure (in an examination); failing grade
anyone; anybody; everyone; everybody; whoever