to give one's everything; to make one's best effort; to be enthused; to put your back into it
next (year, spring, etc.); coming; since (last month, etc.); for (20 years, etc.)
aloof; proudly independent; standing apart; solitary
at this stage; at this point; now (contrasting with the past)
to push down; to knock down
going off course; going out of bounds
leader; central personage
quiet; still; surreptitious
tactful; adroit; shrewd; clever; smart; affable
matter of life or death; life-and-death problem
not mince matters; not mince one's words
absolutely normal; perfectly commonplace; taken for granted
sensible; sensuous; intuitive
precondition; prerequisite
point in common; common term; common trait; common denominator
last piece of the day's programme; last act of a play; comic dialogue as the last item in vaudeville, music hall, etc.
to look displeased; to frown; to scowl; to look grave; to look serious
to put on the brakes; to put a stop to
bad move (in chess, shogi, etc.)
dry; dry (tone, humour, etc.); unemotional; dry (of alcohol)
to find fault with other people rather than oneself; (for the pot) to call the kettle black
quick-tempered; impatient
by the end of this month; before the month is out; in the course of this month
to push someone (towards); to encourage someone
public matter; governmental matter; prince; duke; lord; sir
soft sound; dampening (of sound)
den; haunt; hangout; nest; lair
(after) bouncing around from one place to the next
all over (the place); throughout; everywhere; every inch; every part; from head to toe
tremblingly; having the chills (through fear, cold, anticipation, etc.)
to bring; to take (something) along; to fetch; to get
cloudy sky; overcast sky; cloudy weather
last night; the previous night; night before (Christmas, etc.); eve (of festival, major event, etc.)
rolled egg; rolled omelette (omelet); fried egg; frying pan for making rolled eggs
no problem; it doesn't matter
(one's) quota; assignment
putting on a brave face; put-on cheeriness; pretending one is fine; show of courage; bravado; Dutch courage