oracle; revelation; divine message
entirely useless; completely worthless; no no; don't!
strange; unfamiliar; mysterious; suspicious
foul play; cheating; cunning person; sly fellow; cheat
plump; rotund; chubby; entirely; completely; wholly
reasoning; inference; deduction; mystery genre; detective genre
materials; ingredients; material (for a novel, experiment, etc.); subject matter; grounds (for a decision, judgement, etc.); basis
dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; (far) better; exceptional
to become entangled; to become complicated; to get mixed up; to screw up; to get caught up in
one more time; once more; once again
no way!; no chance!; I don't want to do it!
occupying; having (an area) all to oneself; military occupation; possession; capture
roughly; broadly; generally; more or less
original story (as opposed to a sequel, spin-off, etc.); main story; this volume; the movie (as opposed to the trailers; at a movie theater); feature film (main item in a cinema program); movie based on a TV series
being very active; being very useful; playing a very active part; making a spectacular showing; great efforts; splendid work
to pull (the puppet) strings; to direct things from behind the scenes; to stretch out (and keep going); to linger on
humour; humor; safety; health; in a good mood; in high spirits
poem; poetry; verse; Chinese poem
immorality; injustice; adultery; illicit relationship; murdering one's teacher or a government official (one of the eight unpardonable crimes)
by return; (call or write back) without delay; lapel; cuff; going back; returning; chorus
elder sister; effeminate man
tolerant; generous; lenient; broad-minded; magnanimous
to light (a fire); to kindle; to incite; to instigate; to stir up
safety zone; buffer (e.g. against defeat)
these days; nowadays; recently; lately
small; little; slightly less than; just about; somewhat; somehow
charm; fascination; glamour; glamor; attraction; appeal
murder; killing; murderer
favorable review; favourable review
solid (an assured, a safe) vote; solid (assured) support
popularity; public favor; condition (e.g. market); tone; character
to become clouded; to darken; to darken (of a face); to worsen; to deteriorate
young lady (in ref. to a maid, etc.)
to knock down; to knock off
small child; pipsqueak; short person; midget; small animal; runt
meow; miaow; cat; sexual intercourse; making out
goodbye; so long; saying goodbye to (e.g. life as a bachelor); putting an end to; farewell (performance, party, etc.); final
regular; standard; regular player (on a team); regular guest (on a TV show); regular (gasoline)