only recently; just of late
irritating; aggravating; upsetting; maddening; infuriating; exasperating
parents' day (day when parents observe their children in school)
appearing drowsy or intoxicated (of eyes, actions, etc.)
all-nighter; staying up all night
care; attentiveness; attention; consideration (for others); solicitude
(frustratingly) slow; tedious; sluggish; dull; roundabout
to get cold feet; to back away; to withdraw
sense of orientation; sense of direction
test of one's strength; test of one's ability
trying one's luck; test of one's luck
to bring into the open; to reveal; to uncover (e.g. evidence); to bring to light
the proof of the pudding is in the eating; the proof is in the pudding; don't knock it till you've tried it; you can't tell unless you try
wickedness; evil; iniquity; wrongness
treacherous; dangerous; untrustworthy; sneaky; cunning
nothing new; same as always; an old story; nothing new about it; not the first time it has happened
to make a lasting impression
to excel; to surpass; to exceed; to outweigh; to preponderate
binding; regulation; limit; binding period (e.g. phone or broadband contract); minimum contract term
succeeding; following; trailing; next
stallion brought close to a mare to test her readiness to mate; stalking horse; spoiler
to look daunted; to look embarrassed; to be disappointed
bowstring; string (of a shamisen, etc.); stringed instrument; chord; hypotenuse
to be unable to bear (something) any longer; to be unable to put up with
(software) update; upgrade (to a new version); upgrade (to a device, product, etc.); improvement
to be fragrant; to smell (good); to stink; to smell (bad); to glow; to be bright
scattered; separated; dispersed
to inquire (about); to enquire; to ask; to interrogate; to question intensely; to grill (someone about something)
(in) secrecy; behind closed doors
rule; established routine; standard operating procedure; SOP
to chuckle to oneself; to gloat (over)
taking a shortcut; neighborhood; neighbourhood
cannot be helped; unavoidable
breach of faith; breach of trust; act of disloyalty
refining; purification; careful manufacture
sound; sure; safe; steady; firm
one's habitual practice; usual measure; old trick