lowborn; humble; vulgar; coarse; shabby; poor-looking
to leave the nest; to go out into the world; to become independent (of one's parents); to graduate (and become a member of society)
remarks; comments; way of talking; speaking style; excuse; topic (of conversation)
drowning one's cares in drink; drinking in desperation
Merlion; official mascot of Singapore, depicted as a mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish
to profit; to benefit (from); to benefit (someone or something); to be beneficial to; to make good use of; to take advantage of
to worry (about); to fret (over); to be anxious
labor; labour; work; Labour Party
fortitude; perseverance; stoicism; patience
with a whoosh; with a swish; with a whirl; whizzing by
before one knows it; without realizing; unawares; unnoticed
this and that; such and such
to compare (something) to; to liken; to speak figuratively; to use a simile; to use a metaphor
natto (fermented soybeans)
sticky; gummy; gooey; tenacious; persistent; dogged
respect; esteem; reverence; honour; honor
fearfully; nervously; timidly; gingerly
cartoon-character costume
cut; slice (meat, fish); fillet
to scatter; to sprinkle; to distribute (flyers, etc.); to give out; to shake off (a pursuer, companion, etc.); to give the slip
skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis); oceanic bonito; victorfish
merman; half man-half fish
vanguard; advance-guard point; advance detachment; vanguard; pioneer; avant-garde
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
one-eyed; first (in a series); initial
cacao tree (Theobroma cacao); cocoa tree
to come to nothing; to be in vain; to lead nowhere
youthful; young; young-looking
sarcastic; having a sharp tongue; having a sharp nasty tongue
old wound; scar; unpleasant past experience; painful memory; past misdeed
careful thought; consideration; deliberation; reflection; rumination; pondering
band (e.g. conduction, valence); belt (e.g. Van-Allen, asteroid, etc.)
secret; private; surreptitious
to be pretentious; to put on airs
(two-page) spread; two pages opposite each other
rudeness; impoliteness; discourtesy; insolence
(depending on) how; (depending on) what; nature (of); what is ...?; how is ...?; what will be ...?
filial piety; showing devotion (to someone)
flame; blaze; flames (of intense emotion, e.g. love, jealousy, anger); passion