gradually; by degrees; little by little; step by step
to laugh at; to ridicule; to mock; to make fun of; to sneer at
fighting bravely; strenuous efforts
standing on formality; in a reserved manner; treating a friend as a stranger; unduly distant; formal
ground; earth; the solid earth; the (vast) land
luckily; blessedly; fortunately
counter for tours, cycles, rounds, circuits, etc.
equal (in ability); even; evenly matched; well-matched; on par (with)
normally; ordinarily; by anyone's standards; by normal standards; without any issues; without any difficulty
highlight (scene); high point; climax; show-off scene (of an actor in a play)
proper; right; reasonable
secret plan; secret scheme; secret stratagem; secret method
performance (e.g. music, dance, pantomime, etc.)
to be loath to; to balk at (doing); to grudge (doing); to take (good) care of
soliloquy; monologue; speaking to oneself
dirty; filthy; disordered; messy; indecent (language, etc.); dirty
currently nowhere to be seen; unknown where it went; disappeared into thin air
acquisition (esp. corporate); buy-out; takeover; bribery; buying off; corruption
all the questions (in an exam, quiz, etc.)
to turn inside out; to turn the other way; to look at (something) from another perspective; to put it the other way round; to visit the same prostitute or geisha for a second time
to enlist as a supporter; to win over to one's side; to gain as one's ally
heating power; thermal power; firepower
tank (military vehicle); chariot
opposite; opposition; versus; vs.; to (e.g. "winning a game five to three"); equal footing
infantry; infantryman; foot soldier
strategy meeting; council of war
revival from the brink of death; recovering from a hopeless situation; resuscitation; revitalization
one move (in go, shogi, etc.); only way; only means; doing alone; doing single-handed
to do whatever it takes; to use every trick in the book; to use any means; to stop at nothing
sweet voice; seductive voice
with a complacent smile; with a smile of satisfaction
ill-natured; mean; nasty; sadistic; cruel; mean-spirited
quick; fast; rapid; swift; prompt; streamlined
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
to quiet; to calm down; to compose oneself; to settle down
sitting with one's legs out to one side
full-course dinner; multicourse meal
other people's affairs; somebody else's problem
wiles; sinister design; trick; conspiracy; intrigue
in its entirety; whole; wholly
to blush; to have flushed cheeks