to go up in smoke; to burn down; to be cremated; to vanish into thin air
at the very least; at the very most; as a bare minimum; minimum; (very) least; at least some (comfort, etc.)
to be expensive; to be costly
to take the middle (between the two); to split the difference
winner-takes-all (system); taking everything (esp. winnings)
to draw (water, etc.); to scoop up; to pump up; to draw on (ideas) (from subordinates, the public, etc.); to take into account; to adopt
earnest desire; eager hope; longing; yearning; hankering
to stay up all night; to sit up all night; to do something all night
rain water; "rain water" solar term (approx. February 19)
running the whole distance
success or failure; outcome; result
battle; fight; fighting; engagement; contest
exaltation; emotional uplift
military gains; war results; fruit of battle
(degree of) public interest in forthcoming event or performance; advance reviews
capture (esp. of a foreign vessel); seizure
to nod off (while sitting); to doze off; (lit.) to row a boat
tumultuous (with everyone voicing their opinions simultaneously); uproarious
to create (an atmosphere, feeling, etc.); to produce; to engender
to glare at; to scowl at; to glower at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully
to be partly responsible for; to have a part in; to play a role in
to permeate (of a stain, smell, etc.); to become ingrained; to become embedded; to become a deeply ingrained habit; to become second nature
looking on from afar; being a spectator
eccentric; queer; unconventional; peculiar; bizarre; strange
from ancient times; from old times; from time immemorial
conclusion; decision; end; settlement
to hold (a ceremony); to perform
summons; subpoena; citation; summoning (a spirit, demon, etc.); evocation; invocation
harsh (criticism, treatment, etc.); severe; hard; strict
underling; person of low standing; grunt; petty (work, official, etc.); minor; lowly
to set someone to work in an arrogant fashion; to push someone around; to chatter; to jaw; to jabber
the lower classes; the common people
full dress; formal dress; uniform
mediation; good offices; go-between; building a bridge
excessive self-consciousness; excessively self-conscious person
reply (e.g. email, fax, letter); answer
bunch of flowers; bouquet
mountain top; summit; peak
strangely; oddly; miraculously; mysteriously
to bring (someone into a place); to lead into
to babble in one's cups; to ramble drunkenly
(and) yet; but; for all that; nevertheless
to hire for exclusive use; to reserve; to charter