argument; discussion; dispute; controversy
characteristic; feature; special quality
mother-in-law; foster mother; stepmother
to sound shrill (of a voice); to sound high-pitched and excited; to get excited; to become restless; to be thrown too high; to come in high
round; circular; curved; smooth; harmonious; calm
punishment (of children); spanking; smacking; criminal punishment (esp. execution; Edo period)
matter being discussed (e.g. in a private conversation); our side of the story (in contrast to another's version)
The Tale of Genji (Heian-period classic)
best-before date (on food); use-by date; expiry date; expiration date
heavily laden (of a branch); sagging; drooping; bent low
thieving cat; adulterer; homewrecker
persecution complex; delusion of persecution; paranoia
to accept; to receive (an application); to (be able to) take (food, medicine, etc.); to bear; to be affected by; to take damage from
iron plate; steel plate; sure thing; certain winner
to fire (a gun); to shoot; to let off; to loose off; to blow (someone) away
to blow (a horn, etc.); to sound
sound wave; acoustic wave
free; unrestricted; (with) complete mastery; completely in control
to pluck; to pick; to tear
to prepare oneself for the worst; to strengthen one's resolve; to accept one's fate; to prepare oneself
rustling of leaves; rustling of grass
to dig up; to turn up; to tear up; to rake up (e.g. old scandal); to dig over
to whip; to lash; to give the rod; to spur on; to encourage
hill; height; knoll; bonus points awarded to the winner at the end of a game
to change places (with); to be replaced (with, by); to be changed; to change (seats, shifts, etc.; with someone); to switch; to exchange
suddenly; all of a sudden; quickly; emphatically; energetically
dull; uninteresting; dry; insipid; boring; prosaic
bounds; limits; boundary fence (esp. of horse-riding ground)
to become a (bad) habit; to become a habitual practice; to become addictive; to grow on one; to become moreish
to burrow through; to dig through
pressure; oppression; suppression
artery; arterial road; major route
to starve; to be famished; to be hungry; to be starved of (e.g. love); to be thirsty for (e.g. knowledge); to be hungry for
very close (to); within a stone's throw (of); a stone's throw away (from)
big mouth; mouth opened wide; boastful speech; tall talk; large amount; large quantity