paying back in installments (instalments); amortization plan (amortisation); gradual progression (oft. into an unwanted state); doing little by little; proceeding in a continual and vague fashion; gradually obscuring
to return to normal; to revert to the starting point; to go back to how it was
putting money aside; savings; deposit (e.g. in a bank); accumulated surplus of wins; wins in the bank
to quit one's job; to resign
devastating; gut-wrenching; shocking; startling; sensational; astounding
perennial youth; eternal youth
to go pale; to grow pale; to lose color; to turn white
(having) two choices; choice between two things
malicious; deliberately mean
to be (too) late getting married; to be (too) late going somewhere
extensive knowledge; erudition; learned; erudite; well-informed
working earnestly; sincerity; diligence; effort; pains
treasure hunting; treasure hunt; lucky dip; game involving finding hidden prizes from a sand box, barrel of leaves, etc.
coal mine; (coal) pit; colliery
confusion; bustle; turmoil; to rush around; to act frantically
that much; as much; to that extent; only that; that alone; no more than that
to become weak; to decline; to wear; to abate; to decay; to wither
to kick the bucket; to drop dead; to die; to be pooped; to be exhausted; to be knackered
financially scraping by; meagre existence (meager); hand to mouth existence; living one's life without plan; living life day-by-day; taking life one day at a time
to meet; to face someone; to co-star; to appear together; to be matched; to face against
feigning ignorance; acting dumb
reception center (e.g. for refugees); reception centre
sinner; evildoer; wrongdoer
escape; flight; running away; elopement; fleeing
to brave a danger; to take a risk
merit system (as opposed to seniority); meritocracy; ability-ism
to rise (to a high position); to work one's way up; to push one's way up; to be promoted
wisdom; wit; sagacity; prajna (insight leading to enlightenment)
trivial; not amounting to much; not enough to cause a problem; not as much as expected
worthless; insignificant; unimportant; poor; miserable; wretched
to be flustered; to lose one's presence of mind
speech; eloquence; manner of speaking; manner of expression
pole; rod; line; dash; spoken monotonously
to remove; to move out of the way
difficult to ...; hard to ...
samsara (cycle of death and rebirth); being reborn; reincarnation
exhilarating; thrilling; intensely pleasurable