greatest mistake of one's life
sad to say; how sad; alas
frank; candid; outspoken; unreserved
older sister; elder sister; young lady; miss; ma'am; older girl
Christmas Eve; holy night
it is written that ...; ... is written; it says ...; it reads ...
salaried; paid; with pay; paid vacation; paid holiday; paid leave
tactician; schemer; intriguer; resourceful person
bedroom (esp. one used by a married couple); sleeping quarters; inner room; room at the back of the house
sensual love; love affair
detonation by contact; contact detonation; touching off (something); triggering; sparking
clandestine meeting (of lovers); assignation; tryst; (lovers') rendezvous
to be disheartened; to be dejected; to be discouraged; suddenly (losing a lot of weight); looking emaciated; becoming very thin
to be at a loss for words; to be speechless; to be dumbfounded; to be struck dumb
socks; sock; stockings; stocking
to spread salt (to spiritually purify)
these days; nowadays; recently; lately
to have a drink; to grab a drink
to be outpushed; to lose a pushing competition
emergency meeting; urgent meeting; emergency session; emergency conference
waste land; wilderness; moor; field; plain
to have a showdown; to settle (e.g. a dispute)
eldest son (may be the only son); first-born son
this occasion; at this time; now
behaving in a way characteristic of teenagers going through puberty, esp. by being overly self-conscious; (lit.) 2nd year of junior high sickness
presence; dignity; corpulence; obesity
involuntarily; reluctantly; against one's inclination; against one's will; as a matter of unpleasant necessity; despite oneself
lady attendant; female servant; lady's maid; waiting maid
to translate; to interpret
interpretation (i.e. oral translation); interpreter
defeating an argument; winning an argument; refutation; confutation