smart-alecky; clever-clever; cheeky; cunning; crafty; shrewd
flatly rejecting; curtly refusing; beating easily; defeating handily; one kick
popularity; favorable reputation; high esteem; respect
to cut open; to clear (land); to cut (a path, road, etc.); to carve out (a new career, future, etc.); to open up (a new field)
secret investigation; private enquiry; private inquiry; reconnaissance; scouting
hearsay; rumor; grapevine
secret information; intelligence
boning (fish or meat); deboning; watering down (a plan, bill, etc.); dilution; taking the backbone out of; weakening
to collect; to gather; to arrange; to put in order; to make uniform; to make even
taking; taker; last performer of the day (usu. the star performer); last performance of the day; active partner (e.g. in judo demonstration); emphatic or formal prefix
setting up (a structure, building, camp, etc.); construction; preparation (e.g. of a venue); arrangement (of an event)
perfect (for); ideal; just right; most suitable; tailor-made
longish; moderately long; somewhat long; fairly long
(conductor's) baton; stick; perforated baton; bâton de commandement; bâton percé
shallow thinking; imprudence; rashness; quick temper; short temper
being battlewise; being skilled in battle; experienced warrior
underhanded; unfair; makeshift; stopgap
to read (a book); to open (a book) to read; to unravel (e.g. a mystery); to discover (the truth)
king; sovereign; daimyo with a domain of one or more provinces (Edo period)
derailment; digression; deviation
camp (supporters of a doctrine, party, etc.); faction (of a party); military camp; encampment; cantonment
undulation; ups and downs; highs and lows
ordinary; sensible; commonplace
to strike someone a blow; to bring down (a stick on someone's head)
locational advantage; advantageous position
holding a castle (during a siege); holing up; confinement (to one's home); staying at home; staying indoors
prospects of victory; chances of success
to finish reading; to read through; to figure out; to fully anticipate
(what) one is trying to say; (what) one wants to say; (what) one is saying; (what) one means
to narrow; to reduce; to contract
detour; circumvention; turning movement
composition; formation; organization; organisation; compilation
core; heart (of the matter); point; crux; kernel
two places; two spots; two locations; two parts; two passages
being boxed in on all sides; having obstacles in every direction; being at a loss (what to do); being in a fix
separate room; another room; special room; (arch.) concubine (of a noble)
pre-war days; before the war
to be satisfied; to be pleased; to be proud; to show pleasure (in one's voice or expression); to moan with pleasure
staged event; faked situation; prearranged performance
gasping for breath; puffing and panting; wheezing
to gasp for air; to pant; to be out of breath