journey; trip; travels; during the journey; on the way; while travelling
barren; sterile; infertile; unproductive (e.g. discussion); fruitless
to try; to attempt; to have a go (at something)
handwriting; calligraphy specimen; example of penmanship; holograph
seriously; no kidding; joking aside; in all seriousness
to end in vain; to be wasted effort
to wring (towel, rag); to squeeze; to squeeze (fruit to extract juice); to press; to rack (one's brains); to strain (one's voice); to extort
novel; original; new; innovative
to entrust (e.g. a task) to another; to leave to; to passively leave to someone else's facilities; to leave to take its natural course; to continue (something) in a natural fashion (without particular aim); to rely fully on one's (full strength, great ability, long time taken) to get something done
although I say; although one might say; although called
to laugh (something) off; to dismiss with a laugh; to pooh-pooh
echo; reverberation; sound (esp. the distinctive sound of an object or activity, e.g. rain, gun, gallop, drum); noise; quality of a sound (e.g. a fine phrase, clear voice, resonant bell); feeling of a sound
exquisite; superb; perfect; miraculous
robber; mugger; robbery; burglary
thief; burglar; robber; theft; burglary; robbery
antisocial; contrary to public order or morality; offensive; sociopathic; immoral; obscene
denial; negation; negation (logic); NOT operation
to work; to labor; to function; to operate; to commit (e.g. a crime); to perpetrate
naming; giving a name; designation; nominal
to be a match for; to rival; to equal; to compare with; to be equivalent to
certain; some kind of; some sort of; of sorts
romance (e.g. Arthurian romances); heroic tale; (nigh) impossible dream; adventurous spirit; (full-length) novel; romance
and; moreover; besides; as well as; and on top of that; at the same time
to cross over; to cross; to pass through; to exceed; to surpass; to be more (than)
to believe implicitly; to believe firmly
lifeline; matter of life or death; indispensable thing; life line (in palm reading)
for a moment; for a minute; for a while; for some time; for the time being; for now
obedient; gentle; meek; submissive; docile
irony; sarcasm; unexpected; different from what one expected; (only) surface; something superficial
requital of a favour (favor); repayment (of an obligation, kindness, etc.)
to seize; to catch; to obtain; to acquire; to understand; to grasp
gentlemanly; well-mannered; well-bred; gentlemanlike
proper; appropriate; due; suitable
reward; recompense; return; punishment; retribution
interest; entertainment; pleasure; implicit comparison (style of the Shi Jing)
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
duty; responsibility (incl. supervision of staff); liability; onus
to get worked up; to be eager (enthusiastic); to rouse oneself
how; in what way; how (much); to what extent; however (much); no matter how
ingenuity; resourcefulness
length and width; length and breadth; four cardinal points; every direction; as one wishes; as one pleases
practical problem; practical matter