muddy water; red-light district
to be submerged; to be soaked; to be pickled; to be well seasoned; to be totally immersed (in a condition, e.g. laziness)
dropping; losing; missing item; something one forgot to write down; cleaning; removing; trap
to take someone's life; to kill someone
peace; tranquility; tranquillity; Heian period (794-1185)
spotlight; public eye; public's attention; goldfish bowl
absolute; complete; utter; pure; sheer
(those) who are; (that) which is; in the capacity of
gossipy; abusive; critical; jabbering
justice; right; righteousness; correct meaning; correct explanation
to wear the mantle of (borrowed) authority and misuse it
shameless; shameless person
to brace one's legs; to stand firm; to plant one's feet (firmly on the ground); to hold out; to persist; to make an effort
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
small mercy (from some misfortune); silver lining of a dark cloud; consolation in sadness; blessing in disguise
to soak (in); to steep; to dip; to dunk
to answer; to fire back; to retort; to redo; to do over; to try again
head-on fight; direct confrontation; head-to-head contest
nothing new; same as always; an old story; nothing new about it; not the first time it has happened
to feel relieved; to feel satisfied
not a pretty sight; appalling; not a good look
all you have to do is; just; that's all
to overdo; to go too far; to go to excess
reading partway; leaving half-read
ghastliness; dreadfulness; grimness; intimidation; menace; threat
to cause to swell; to inflame
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic
returning tit for tat; retaliating
tricking someone (into confirming or revealing the truth)
perpetrator; wrong-doer; aggressor; assailant; offender; at-fault party (e.g. in an accident)
support (e.g. for an argument); backing; proof; evidence; corroboration; substantiation
contribution (to a newspaper, magazine, etc.); submission; post (on a blog, social media, etc.)
person of lofty virtue; man of noble character; perfect person; saint
father and mother; parents
to talk; to tell; to recite; to pledge; to conspire with
reprimand; rebuke; reproach; scolding
there being no use in arguing (about it); not up for discussion