general situation; general trend; general tendency; way things are moving; current (of the times); tide (e.g. of public opinion)
leader; central personage
to evaluate; to appraise; to comment on
filling (up) a hole; filling in (for a gap, vacancy, etc.); stopgap; making up (for a loss, damage, etc.); covering (a deficit); cloze deletion (test format)
starring (in a film, play, etc.); playing the leading part
to employ; to hire; to charter
large room; green room; waiting room for performers when off stage; junior actor; actor of small parts; large hospital room (for several patients)
to throw into; to toss into
billiards; pool; snooker; cue sports
isolation; being alone; being friendless
disdaining everybody; not caring an ounce about other people's feelings
to replace; to substitute; to shift; to change places
to be nauseating; to be disgusting; to be revolting; to throw up; to vomit
being without a name; being nameless; namelessness
plentiful; lot of; much; pile of
a long time ago; long before now
often; frequently; now and then; occasionally
warming up (food) in a microwave
to put on airs; to act big; to throw one's weight about; to be overbearing; to be domineering; to be bossy
wide difference; a world of difference
something worthy of comparison; something being compared
opening; gap; dried and opened fish
shell; husk; hull; pod; chaff
packed and sterilised food; retort pack
disorder; confusion; clutter; mess; muddle; disarray
half-cooked; half-done; soft-boiled; half-ripe; unripe
to place on (something); to give (someone) a ride; to give a lift; to load (luggage); to carry; to send out (on the airwaves, etc.); to deceive
ideal man (as a romantic partner); eligible bachelor
trend of the times; way things are going
thin-culmed dwarf bamboo (growing in clusters); Japanese transverse bamboo flute (high-pitched; usu. with seven holes); sliver (strand of loose fibers)
instant noodles sold in a cup; cup noodles
precious; valuable; priceless; noble; exalted; sacred
frame; framework; border; box; limit; restriction; category
thorn; spine; splinter (esp. lodged in one's flesh); hard sharp item (esp. lodged in one's throat, e.g. fish bone); biting words
quickly, in a bouncing way (e.g. for a bow)
pale; pallid; bluish-white
at that time; in those days; at that moment; then
rough (estimate, manner, etc.); crude; broad; loose; careless (work)
it can't be helped; so it goes; c'est la vie
poor; meagre; meager; feeble; scanty; shabby