backing (for a position); giving support to; helping (someone) to a position
to be onto a good thing; to make money without working; to line one's pockets
desperate; frantic; excited; worked up; heated; eager
major contender; strong (leading) candidate; front runner
(not) always; (not) necessarily; (not) entirely; (not) all
sweet-tasting; sweet; fragrant (smelling); sweet (music); lightly salted; light in salt; indulgent
to breathe in; to inhale; to suck; to sip; to absorb; to soak up
rank; ranking order; hierarchy
to jump at; to leap at; to fly at; to spring at; to pounce on
group; faction; (political) faction; wing; school (of thought, painting, etc.); sect
to be completed; to be finished; to be ready (e.g. to serve or eat); to be very drunk; to get plastered
trouble; difficulties; dispute; confusion; disorder; mess
powerful person; influential person
losing one's position; losing one's standing; downfall; fall (from power); being overthrown
to corner; to drive to the wall; to run down; to track down; to chase after
losing everything; suffering a total loss; coming to nothing; (lit.) having lost the interest and the principal
use; exercise (of one's right, authority, power, etc.)
terrible; dreadful; tremendous; terrific; appalling; shocking
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
to be raised (e.g. child); to be brought up; to grow (up)
riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
(in) secrecy; behind closed doors
rearing; training; nurture; cultivation; promotion
cold-blooded; unfeeling; heartless; heart of stone; inconsiderate
machine; mechanism; instrument; appliance; apparatus
plausible (but untrue); credible (e.g. lie); specious; seemingly truthful
to whisper; to murmur; to rumor; to rumour
in that manner; like that
(present) head of a family
protection; safeguard; shugo (Kamakura or Muromachi period military governor)
(medieval) knight; samurai on horseback
gifted education; special education for gifted children
(if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that; (unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario)
again; once more; a second time
fight; dispute; feud; competition; contest; rivalry
insurance; guarantee; warranty
to be performed (on the stage); to be in the limelight