watchdog; chaperone; watcher
difficult; tough; formidable; redoubtable; stubborn
this and that; this or that; one thing or another; this way and that
to probe; to search; to sound out; to investigate
to find a clear solution; to come to a clean decision; to give a clear explanation; to divide exactly (without remainder); to divide evenly
fighting back; returning fire; counter-attack; responding to an attack; accepting a challenge
cheerful; bright; clear; clean; honest
entertaining with food and drink; treating to dinner; wining and dining; immediately agreeing with someone else; pandering
head start; initiative; preemption
guidance; leading (the way); information; notice; announcement (of one's arrival); invitation
many; numerous; various; large number of
feast; treating (someone); to treat (someone, e.g. to a meal)
maneuvering ground; manoeuvering ground
to prepare; to provide; to set up; to establish; to organize
welcoming honored guests (esp. from overseas)
to offer; to present; to serve (food and drink); to offer (to the gods); to set up (before an altar)
mainland; the country proper; native country; country where one was born; pure land; Buddha realm
disagreeableness; unpleasantness; nastiness; cutting remark; disagreeable remark; snide comment
(unrefined) brown sugar; muscovado
hospitality; reception; treatment; (light) refreshment; entertaining with food and drink; treat
to express in a roundabout way
way of speaking; intimation
suspicious-looking; shady; questionable; dubious; fishy
letter (of alphabet); character; writing
anyway; anyhow; at any rate; after all
being very busy; busyness
not writing or contacting for a while; neglecting (failing) to write (call, visit, etc.); long silence
embarrassing; embarrassed; ashamed; disgraceful; shameful
intolerant; small-minded; inflexible; unforgiving; unyielding; ungenerous
patronizing; expecting gratitude in return; acting like one is doing someone a favor; condescending
to make a cynical remark (about); to make a sarcastic remark (about); to satirize; to mock
reduced drawing; miniature copy; microcosm; microcosmos
snide remark; insinuation; sly dig; disguised reproach; indirect criticism
(preliminary) skirmish; prelude; preliminary encounter; warm-up match (e.g. before a final)
to reveal one's true nature; to show one's true colours; to give oneself away; to be exposed (of a lie, etc.)