by a hair's breadth; in the nick of time; touch and go; close call; critical moment
excited; enthusiastic; high-tensile (e.g. steel); high-voltage (e.g. circuit); high-tension (e.g. current)
to tuck up (a kimono skirt); to tuck in; to make short (a story, explanation, etc.); to cut short; to abridge
reading; reading (of a kanji, esp. kun reading); reading (e.g. of a situation); insight
what?!; what did you say?!; why?; what for?; anyone; anything
failure; defeat; mistake; unconsciousness
before one knows it; before one realises; without one's knowledge; without noticing
rich (taste); full-bodied (flavour, flavor); mellow; laid-back (lifestyle); relaxed; comfortable
carelessly; inattentively
to get tired of waiting; to grow impatient
to beat around the bush; to not speak frankly; to talk in a roundabout way
to fall over; to fall down; to fall; to flop (e.g. of a play); to be a flop
to take off one's clothes; to undress; to strip naked; to become naked
every corner; every nook and cranny; all the ins and outs
clean; hygienic; sanitary; pure; virtuous; immaculate
treatment (esp. hair treatment)
bathing powder; bathwater additive; bath salt
high-class; high-grade; high-quality; high-ranking; high-level; senior
patisserie; pastry shop; French-style pastry
unhappiness; misfortune; ill luck
interruption; suspension; break
both; together; jointly; simultaneously
covering (a loss, deficit, etc.); making up (for); compensating (for); supplementation
mobilization; going into action; being dispatched; being sent out; being called in; turning out
(necessary) personnel; required person
free (of restraint, controls, etc.); free (of charge); freelance; independent; freelancer; one-size-fits-all; free skating
office work; desk work; indoor work
in a subdued voice; in undertones; in a whisper; dry and tasteless; stale
(not) well; (not) properly; (not) enough; (not) sufficiently; (not) satisfactorily; (not) decently
working away from the office; working outside the office; outside duty
public affair; government matter; duke; prince; Sir; Lord
government office; government agency; authorities
order; observance; discipline; rules; law; regulations
exceptional; unusual; extraordinary; unprecedented; singular
title (e.g. Doctor, Professor, Lord); job title; position (in a company); degree; status; rank
section manager; section chief
leisurely post; do-nothing job; sinecure
to play with fire; to do something very dangerous; to take a great risk; (lit.) to step on a tiger's tail
way of talking; speaking style
left utterly helpless; have no one to turn to; unapproachable