not all bad; not as dissatisfied (or annoyed) as one would have others believe; not completely displeasing; fairly pleasing
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
to manage; to settle; to dispose of; to deal with; to arrange
mixing of public and private affairs; mixing business with personal affairs; mixing work and private matters
caged bird; person whose freedom has been restricted (esp. a prostitute, mistress, concubine, etc.)
favour; favor; obligation; kindness; benevolence
debt; loan; liabilities; number of games under the .500 mark
obligation; favour; favor; debt of gratitude
binding (someone) hand and foot; being tied down (by rules, obligations, etc.)
the other day; lately; recently
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
all; whole; entire; complete (set); in total
to rise; to swell; to intensify; to increase; to grow stronger; to get higher
(cannot) possibly; (not) by any means; (not) at all; utterly; absolutely
actual spot; scene (of a crime, accident, etc.); (on) site; (on) the ground; filming location; (movie) set
to teach someone a lesson; to show someone a thing or two; to show someone what one can do
to grasp at straws; to resort to desperate measures
somehow; somewhat; seemingly
rough; careless; slovenly; slipshod; rude; impolite
to display one's real ability; to show one's real ability; to show one's stuff; to show oneself at one's best; to really shine; to come into one's own
mental preparedness; being braced for; being steeled for
establishment; founding; organization; organisation
to become the focus of (attention, sympathy, hope, etc.)
starting point; point of departure
mountain forest; forest on a mountain; forest land; mountains and forests
to model (something) on; to be modelled on; to be made in the shape of; to symbolize; to represent
last; final; end; conclusion; rust
failing to live up to one's name; being beaten by one's name
to surpass the rest (e.g. of a large group); to stand out from the crowd; to be the best by far
slope; slanting surface; bevel
meaning of a word; meaning of the kanji (that make up a word)
preview (of an exhibition); private viewing; preliminary inspection
especially; particularly; above all; portioning out (servings of food)
fruit; nut; seed; (in broth) pieces of meat, vegetable, etc.; content; substance
leisure; leisure time; spare time
high temperature and humidity
giving up; quitting; surrendering
to brave a danger; to take a risk