chain store; retail chain; restaurant chain
worn-out; shabby; seedy; completely exhausted
one line; (a) single line; boundary; line (between things); forefront; front line
sickle-shaped neck (e.g. snake, praying mantis); crooked neck; gooseneck
known as ...; also known as ...; called ...; AKA
escape from reality; escapism; ostrichism
having had enough; flatly refusing; wouldn't do for anything; begging pardon
trigger (of a gun, etc.); trigger (for something); immediate cause
gathering place; labour camp for drifters, criminals, etc. (Edo period); entertainment hall (for rakugo, manzai, magic, music, etc.); vaudeville theater (theatre)
hurdle; hurdle race; hurdles; hurdle; obstacle
special number; special issue
patronage; favour; favor; custom
to expose one's faults; to have one's defects exposed; to show oneself up
volume retailer; mass marketer; emporium
to go through a bitter experience; to get into trouble; to get hurt; to feel pain
throat; important part; vital area
joint party (e.g. by students from several colleges); combined party; mixer; two or more groups, esp. female and male students, combining for a party
dubious tale; cock-and-bull story; questionable information
health problem; poor physical health; bad shape; feeling unwell
(juvenile) delinquent; Yankee; Yank; American
preparatory school (for entrance examinations); cram school; cramming school
with a bang bang (e.g. repeated sound of a hammer or gunfire); at a mad pace; with great vigor
broken; interrupted; disconnected; intermittent; fragmentary; discontinuous
outline; summary; gist; in brief
union; unity; bundling; binding; (arch.) putting on (clothes, armour, etc.)
idle gossip; foolish talk; yarn
fictitious; imaginary; fanciful; aerial; overhead
taking a story with a grain of salt; discounting half the story
residing; living; dwelling
just because; even if; even though
reins; bridle; control; the reins (on)
mock exam; practice exam; practice test
sudden drop; sharp fall; nosedive; swoop