rescue mission; evacuation operation
decayed tree; rotted tree; decayed wood; obscure, meaningless life (metaphor)
lightly; easily; carelessly
block (of wood); chip; splinter
to start with the looks; to get the trappings right as the first step; to start (at the wrong end) by focusing on the superficial
to grow; to cultivate; to let grow (e.g. weeds)
genuine article; real thing; real deal
pose; pose; posturing; pause; rest
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
on closer reflection; on second thought; come to think of it; actually
attribute; property; attribute; alignment (in a role-playing game); element (of an enemy or attack); type (of dealt damage); (character) type
serving (of food); helping; chilled soba served on a dish (often on a wicker basket or in a shallow steaming basket) with dipping sauce
impressions; thoughts; feelings; reactions
(I) will; (I) shall; let's; (I) wonder (if); might it be (that)
speaking of; (I told you) already; come on
to go round and cut in; to take a roundabout path
regarding as dangerous; identifying as a threat
statement; remark; observation; utterance; speech; proposal
hereabouts; around there; that area
to omit; to leave out; to exclude; to curtail; to save; to cut down
tactics; strategy; military operation; naval operation
right; correct; proper; righteous; just
to pierce; to stab; to sting; to bite; to sew; to stitch; to pole (a boat)
just like that; quite so; I agree; that street
when it becomes; when it comes to
(spoken) line (in a play, film, comic, etc.); one's lines; comment; remark; stock phrase; set phrase
to float; to be suspended; to rise to the surface; to appear; to come to mind; to have inspiration
clue; lead; key; handhold; hold
unpleasant; revolting; feeling sick; feeling unwell; uncomfortable; annoying
ogre; demon; spirit of a deceased person; ogre-like person (i.e. fierce, relentless, merciless, etc.); it (in a game of tag, hide-and-seek, etc.); seeker; Chinese "ghost" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study
investigation; inspection; examination; tune; note; melody
unnatural; artificial; affected; strained
heartbroken; crestfallen; dejected; feeling exhausted; feeling drained
useless; futile; unnecessary; needless; not on business; unrelated
coincidence; chance; by chance; unexpectedly; contingency
to pick up; to gather; to find (and pick up; something someone has dropped); to select; to choose; to get (unexpectedly); to hit upon (luck, an opportunity, etc.)
such ... as; or some such
to drive away; to clear; to scatter; to disperse
to spring at; to leap upon; to swoop down on; to throw oneself upon (e.g. an enemy)
confections; sweets; candy; cake