no exception; without exception; always the same
to be told or made to hear something so often that you (metaphorically) get calluses on your ears
last moment; eleventh hour; platform made of dirt used to perform executions (decapitations) in the Edo period
firm; solid; steady; secure; unshakeable; unwavering
extraordinary strength displayed in an emergency; surge of power beyond one's normal capacity; great strength exerted at risk
tempering (metal); annealing; forging; toughening; disciplining; training
gift; boon; godsend; (good) result; fruit (e.g. of one's efforts)
please remember me; please help me; please treat me well; please do; please take care of
to have heard somewhere; to sound familiar
to look out on; to overlook; to face (a situation, crisis, etc.); to meet (e.g. death); to deal with (an issue); to attend (e.g. a function)
agreement; rules; code; protocol; convention; bylaw
to ask a question; to begin to ask a question
to exchange glances; to look at each other; to postpone; to put off; to contrast; to compare
overconfident; presumptuous
passing (an exam); pass; success; meeting (specifications, standards, etc.); passing (inspection); qualification
addition; supplement; appending; appendix
pattern; behavioural pattern; behavioral pattern; predictability
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
state (of mind); mental state; field (of activity); one's lot; circumstance; place
reaching; attaining; arrival
tightrope walking; high-wire act; funambulism; treading a tightrope; walking on thin ice; pulling a risky balancing act
incompetent; have no merit
distinctive of; characteristic of; uniquely applying to; but; except; without
thorn; spine; splinter (esp. lodged in one's flesh); hard sharp item (esp. lodged in one's throat, e.g. fish bone); biting words
taking an examination (esp. for entrance to a school or university)
directions; instructions; orders; command
to come down in the world; to fall low; to be ruined; to be reduced to poverty; to fall on hard times
manner of speaking; verbal argument; objection; protesting a decision (esp. that of a sumo referee); rumor; rumour
since some time ago; for some time; for quite a while
unsuitable; inappropriate; improper
staring (e.g. eyes); goggling; glaring
to throw; to fling; to hurl; to neglect; to abandon; to leave alone
to kill with a sword (knife, dagger, etc.); to slay; to put to the sword
episode; anecdote; vignette; episode
habit (usu. a bad one); tendency; peculiarity; idiosyncrasy; crease; wrinkle
irritation; annoyance; frustration
there; over there; genitals; private parts; that far; that much
hostility; animosity; enmity
back and front; inside and outside; inside out (e.g. clothing); double-dealing; two faces (cf. two-faced); outward appearance and actual condition
gradually; by degrees; little by little; step by step
mediocre; ordinary; commonplace; banal
individual; distinctive; unique; characteristic; personal; idiosyncratic
end; finish; bound; limit; delivery date (of a futures contract); finale (of a noh song); end of an act (in jōruri or kabuki)
there; the spot; the place; then and there; on the spot; immediately
impact (on); (strong) impression; effect; impact (of a ball against a racket, bat, club, etc.)