bitter (e.g. criticism); sharp; biting; severe; scathing; harsh
to surpass; to outstrip; to excel
standard; basis; criterion; norm; reference; datum
to come to nothing; to be in vain; to lead nowhere
year; age; years; past one's prime; old age
to read the situation; to sense the mood
unable to read the situation; unable to pick up on the mood (e.g. of a conversation)
beast (i.e. any animal other than man); person reborn into the animal realm; brute (i.e. a contemptible human being); damn it; damn
from the place (where); from the fact that ...; caused by the fact that ...; because
to bark; to howl; to howl (e.g. of the wind); to roar; to yell; to cry
to rub on; to rub against; to wipe on; to strike (a match)
half-hearted reply; vague answer; reluctant answer
to set (sun); to become dark
night view; night skyline; nightscape
worth; merit; value; good point; redeeming feature; saving grace
like everyone else; like most people; like an ordinary person; as much as anyone else
to listen repeatedly; to listen again; to ask a question in return; to ask again; to ask for a repeated explanation
creakingly; squeakingly; tightly (squeezing, pressing, etc.); (drinking) all in one sweep
recoil; hesitation; flinching; shrinking back
to defend against; to protect against; to prevent; to avert; to avoid
to put on the brakes; to put a stop to
among (other things); especially; particularly; inter alia; above all (else)
astonishment; amazement; surprise; fright; shock
to dye; to colour; to color
biggest; greatest; largest; maximum
to dump (e.g. onto the floor); to empty by overturning; to throw out (contents); to tell everything; to reveal everything; to open one's heart
hardly any; almost nonexistent; very little
in addition; furthermore; above (which); on top of (which)
clever; intelligent; well-behaved (esp. children and pets); obedient; (arch.) good (with words)
idea; plan; fancy; impulse; thought; whim
anyhow; anyway; somehow or other; generally speaking; in any case
origin; source; base; basis; cause; ingredient; material
to prepare; to provide; to set up; to establish; to organize
early summer; fourth month of the lunar calendar
wound; injury; chip; crack; flaw; defect
that; the matter in question