just kidding; not!; ersatz; imitation; phony
chat over tea; gossip; small talk
to amuse oneself; to make merry
difference; distinction; discrepancy; mistake; error
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
unknown; obscure; insignificant
a few years ago; some years back
or rather (say); or better (say); or perhaps I should say; or, how should I put it; I mean
at that time; in those days
surname; family name; hereditary title (used in ancient Japan to denote rank and political standing)
to give one's name (as); to introduce oneself (as); to claim to be; to call oneself; to reveal oneself (as); to admit to being
craving for the limelight
character (of a person); personality; disposition; characteristics; nature (of a thing, event, etc.)
front and rear; before and after; order; sequence; consequences; context
mostly; ordinarily; probably; most; almost all; ordinary
to make war (on); to wage war (against); to compete (against); to struggle (against adversities, etc.); to fight
learning; scholarship; study; study of ...; -ology; -ics
weapon; arms; ordnance; weapon (something used to gain an advantage); asset
to betray; to turn traitor (to); to double-cross; to disappoint; to let down
far from; anything but; not at all ... but rather ...; let alone; to say nothing of; not to mention
up through; up until; down to; from ... to ... (e.g. from head to toe); everything from ... to ...
devoted; self-sacrificing
to support; to prop; to sustain; to hold at bay; to stem; to check
for a while; for some time; for a period
elegant; graceful; refined; leisurely; comfortable; easy
conduct; behaviour; movements; gesture; performance (on stage, etc.); dance
to become fraught with emotion
question; inquiry; enquiry
civil war; insurrection; rebellion; domestic conflict
to rule; to govern; to reign over; to subdue; to suppress; to quell
leading actor; star; leading figure; central figure; key figure
primeval forest; virgin forest
to seal (e.g. a letter); to prevent (e.g. movement); to forbid; to block (e.g. speech)
to order; to command; to appoint
treachery; betrayal; perfidy
what did you just say (to me)?; what's that?
success; achievement; succeeding (in life); (worldly) success; prosperity