increase in amount; increase in quantity; increase in volume
favoritism; favouritism; partiality; prejudice; bias
to seize (someone) by the collar; to grab (someone) by the scruff of the neck; to collar (someone)
falling into a doze; dozing off; nodding off
outward; superficial; external; apparent
achievements; actual results; accomplishments; past results; track record
a few people; small number of people
to succeed in doing; to see through; to manage to do; to finish doing
this point; now; this late in the game
allied nation; ally; Central Powers (in WWI)
speaking of ...; as for ...
demonstration; protest; (giving a) demo; demonstration; presentation
choral chanting; chanting in chorus (e.g. at a demonstration)
beside a nobleman; close aid (of a nobleman, etc.); place where a high ranking person resides; one's own city (of a shogun, lord, etc.); place under one's direct control; one's own turf
traditional; customary; conventional
to advise strongly; to insist (on something)
gradually becoming poor; situation getting gradually worse and worse
direct talks; direct negotiations; talking to someone in person
to probe someone's real intentions; to sound someone out; to try to fathom someone's thoughts
soon; in a moment; nearby; close; direct; spot transaction
face value (of a security, bond, or currency); literal meaning; word for word (meaning); (at) face value
seeing things in a favourable light (favorable)
eloquence or flattery designed to deceive
payment in advance; advance payment; prepayment
previously; already; for some time; for quite a while
black-market channels; illegal channels
infirmity (due to old age); decrepitude; senility; senescence; superannuation
(leading) a vagabond life; (leading) a wandering existence
to end one's life; to commit suicide; to end a life; to kill
diversion into illegal channels; putting on the black market; selling through illegal channels
soon; before long; shortly; close (by); near; nearby
stranger; tramp; wanderer
to be sacked; to be dismissed
it's my turn; the ball is in my court; it's up to me
training method in sports, etc. where one imagines how a scenario would play out; mental rehearsal; mental preparation; visualization (for practicing a skill in one's mind)(practising); practicing under simulated conditions (e.g. while watching a video); mental dry run