to become one tile away from completion; to be at one's wits' end; to be about to blow one's fuse
to fall into (someone's) hands; to fall under someone's control; to become someone's property (e.g. of an object)
Japanese-style writing desk
scrawl; scribble; graffiti; doodle
degeneration; retrogression
although; but; even though; I wish that
sea level; (surface of) sea
in some way; somehow or other; somewhere or other
ignoring (one thing) for (another)
timidly; nervously; with nervous diffidence; trembling with fear
to be violated; to be corrupted; to be polluted; to be stained
to live in hiding; to live as a recluse
coastline; shoreline; coastal railway
holding out for a short while; putting up resistance for a while; briefly holding one's own
unfounded (e.g. rumour); groundless; baseless; completely untrue
ignoring; disregarding; taking no notice of; refusing to comment on; turning a deaf ear to
to give up as hopeless; to wash one's hands (of someone or something)
foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
useless object; deadwood; white elephant; boondoggle
(one's) handling of the reins; how well one controls things
minor or untalented actor (relegated to roles such as the legs of a stage horse)
usually; under usual circumstances