latch; clasp; catch; check; fastener
large; big; older; senior; final; ultimate
National Defense Academy (Japan); NDA
head; chief; top student; head of the class; top seat; first desk (in orchestra)
graduation; completion (of a course); moving on (from); outgrowing (something); leaving (a group, company, etc.); quitting
invitation; introduction; temptation
half in doubt; half-convinced; dubious; incredulous
for the whole day; all day
bang on the money; spot on; right answer
at a young age; while still young
the strait gate (in the Bible); the narrow gate; high barrier (to enter a highly competitive school, company, etc.); difficult hurdle; difficulty
selection (from many people for an important position); exceptional promotion
mediation; good offices; influential person; person of influence; (arch.) eloquence; (arch.) eloquent person
shrine; palace; imperial residence; Imperial prince; Imperial princess; headboard with built-in shelves, drawers, etc.
service; duty; business; Buddhist religious services
to domineer; to throw one's weight around; to lord it (over)
high salary earner; high income earner; well-paid employee; highly-paid; in the top salary bracket
free time; spare time; idle moment
target practice; marksmanship; target shooting (e.g. at a fair)
beautification; cleaning up; tidiying; glorification; idealization; romanticizing
to talk of one's dreams (esp. unrealistic, far-fetched ones); to dream out loud
serious; earnest; honest; real; legit
white knight; knight in shining armor
brilliant; glorious; glittering; bright; splendid (e.g. achievement, success); promising (e.g. future)
the public; the street (e.g. "word on the street"); street; district; location (e.g. of a battle); scene (e.g. of carnage)
How did you like ...?; How about ...?; What's going on?; How's it going?
to get drunk; to become tipsy
sharp-eared; have sharp ears; picks things up fast
losing one's position; losing one's standing; downfall; fall (from power); being overthrown
splash; spray; chance blow; by-blow; getting dragged into (a quarrel, etc.)
to be answerable (for); to take the blame
career; occupation; personal history; professional experience; government employee who has passed the highest national civil service exam; carrier; carrier (of a disease-causing agent)
endlessly; continuously; (going) on and on; meandering; winding; sinuous
side (esp. of a waterbody); edge; bank; shore
without permission; without notice
bleary eyes; drunken eyes
being dead drunk; drunken stupor
flight (e.g. airline flight); trip (e.g. train trip); mail; post; opportunity; chance
sudden rise; sharp rise; boom; skyrocketing