something one finds questionable; something one finds fault with
job; work; duties; trade; skill
slim; slender; lithe; smoothly; without resistance; without trouble
misfortune; ill fate; bad luck; obscurity
personal history; background; career
stain; blot; flaw; disgrace
to be anxious (about); to be concerned (about); to think out (e.g. a plan); to work out; to investigate
disinheritance; disowning
perhaps; possibly; by some chance; by some possibility
accurate; correct; precise; exact
audience with someone of high rank (e.g. the emperor)
return gift; return favour; revenge; change (in a cash transaction)
silently (as the grave); quietly (as in death)
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
living thing; living creature; animal; life
to be defeated; to be beaten; to be unsuccessful; to lose
as (one pleases, one is told, etc.); wherever (e.g. one's feet take one); according to
to begin talking; to open up
to make one's own; to take possession of
straight ball (pitch); direct (e.g. question); blunt
self-deprecating; self-mocking
to enlist as a supporter; to win over to one's side; to gain as one's ally
if so; in that case; in that situation
superiority; superior power; predominance; preponderance
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
shallow; superficial; thoughtless; short-sighted; foolish; silly
to come out all right; to take care of itself; to go crazy; to become romantically or sexually involved (with someone)
fantasy; illusion; vision; dream
the past; bygone days; one's past (that one would prefer remained secret); past (tense); preterit; previous life
citizen; resident; person; user (of a website, esp. as a collective, e.g. Twittersphere)
everyday; daily; ordinary; usual; routine; regular
at first; in the beginning; originally
lasting quality; good wearing ability; going a long way
noisy; confused; uproarious
calming down; quieting down
excess; surplus; superabundance; overabundance
passage (of time); elapsing; progress; development; transit
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
thought; imagination; mind; desire; wish; love
one (esp. of two); the other; on the one hand; on the other hand; whereas; although
modern times; the modern age; this day and age
to spare; to grudge; to regret; to lament; to be reluctant (to do); to be unwilling
time; years; days; the Moon and the Sun
to change (with time, the ages, the seasons, etc.); to shift