upper reaches of a river; upstream
spine; backbone; spinal column
to crush (with one's hands); to kill a proposal; to shelve; to table (remove from consideration)
reserves (esp. troops); reserve army; potential members of some group (e.g. the elderly); people at risk (e.g. of a medical condition); wannabees
to open one's eyes wide (in astonishment, wonder, etc.); to be wide-eyed; to be amazed
chance to win; opportunity to win; chance of victory
may I ask (for); might I ask (that)
(one's) military service record
to be rejuvenated; to feel young again
expresses incredulousness, disbelief, irony, etc.
hollow; sharply; cleanly (of cutting); smoothly
to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge; to peck at (one's food); to pick at; to peck at (someone's faults, etc.); to egg on
clever; intelligent; well-behaved (esp. children and pets); obedient; (arch.) good (with words)
chores; odd jobs; miscellaneous affairs; miscellaneous expenses
ghastly; gruesome; appalling; lurid
urgent; pressing; exigent
surface mail (ship); sea mail; ferry service; steamer service
by today; before the day is over
bitter experience (ordeal)
loss; defeat; counter for losses
to rinse; to wash out; to have one's revenge; to wipe out a disgrace
throughout; over a period of ...; over a span of ...
one's assessment of the situation
one cause; one reason; one factor
to take away; to carry off
permanent national policy
explosive; sudden and dramatic (of an increase in sales, popularity, etc.); explosive; rapid
advance (e.g. of Japanese exports) into overseas markets
magnificent; grand; majestic; splendid
to turn over; to turn pages of a book; to tear off; to strip off; to tear up
bamboo sheath; bamboo peel
knothole; peep-hole; bad eyes
seaweed salt; salt from burning seaweed
tingling; stinging; pungently