hitting the target; striking home; proving to be right; coming true; being on the mark
counterattack; counteroffensive; counterblow
to find difficult to guess; to struggle to work out; to be unable to figure out
idiot; moron; trivial matter; folly; stupid; foolish
muddy; covered with mud; mud-caked
shame; embarrassment; disgrace
as if ...; as if to say ...; as though ...
massacre; annihilation; wholesale slaughter
to be itching to put one's skills to use
reappearance; reemergence; return; reproduction; reenactment; recreation
father; dad; papa; pa; pop; daddy
ought to do; have to do; must do; feel obliged to
intermittently; bit by bit; little by little; in drops (e.g. of rain)
(not) so much; (not) that much
changing clothes; change of clothes
to miss a chance; to fail to do
major loss; crushing defeat; big discount
inherent flavor; inherent flavour; natural taste; distinctive characteristic (of a person, work, etc.); peculiar quality; special ability
smirkingly; broadly (grinning)
to bear; to stand; to support; to withstand; to be fit for; to be equal to
to hold one's breath (in fear, anxiety, etc.)
smoke screen; dazzler; camouflage; deceptive means; magic; witchcraft
excitement; stimulation; agitation; arousal
anywhere; for all time; through thick and thin; come hell or high water; persistently; stubbornly
desperation; struggle to the death
sworn younger brother; junior male peer (in a club, group, etc.)
now that you mention it; come to think of it; that reminds me; on that subject; speaking of which
status elevation; upgrading; promotion
great delight; great satisfaction; rapture
commencing with; including
indicates means of action; cause of effect; by
no!; no no!; no, not at all
Echigo (former province located in present-day Niigata Prefecture)
promptly; quickly; without delay; before others; first