short end of the stick; short straw; unlucky number; blank; bad bargain
to visit; to call on; to pay a visit to
straight (from one place to another); going right onto; on the way; simultaneously; incidentally; directly
(preparatory) meeting; briefing session; overlap (of a coat, etc.); (arch.) making something match exactly
what kind of; what sort of; what; how; in what way
dilution; watering down; inflation (of budget, claim, etc.); padding
scarf (esp. one worn for warmth); muffler
prominent; eminent; leading; foremost; distinguished
call; summons; call; invocation; usher who calls the names of wrestlers, sweeps the ring, etc.; telephone number at which a person without a telephone can be reached; (arch.) box-shaped area containing clean water for rinsing oneself (in an Edo-period bathhouse)
pack of lies; complete fabrication; all lies
not straightforward; not dealt with by ordinary means; very hard to manage
to hold hands; to join hands; to do together; to go arm in arm; to join forces; to link hands
nothing one can say (e.g. about something perfect); not a thing one can complain about; better than one could hope for
to give off sparks; to spark; to have a heated argument; to fight fiercely
without delay; smoothly; without a hitch
karma; result of one's karma; fate; uncontrollable temper
appearing in unexpected places and at unexpected moments; elusive; phantom
gift; boon; godsend; (good) result; fruit (e.g. of one's efforts)
morale (of troops, team, etc.); esprit de corps
ill-preparedness; insufficient preparation; lack of preparation
military forces; army; troops; number of soldiers
sneakily; secretly; stealthily; on the sly
a lot; plenty; abundant; exaggerated; grandiose
to palm off; to force a sale
miser; cheapskate; scrooge
suffix for familiar person; indicates emphasis; (arch.) prostitute
admiration; being impressed (by)
paper-thin (difference); razor-thin; very slight
failure (e.g. of a bill, motion); falling through; rejection; miscarriage
aim; goal; prospect; outlook
to take the form (of); to assume a shape
wise; sensible; well-advised; intelligent; sagacious; prudent
to have the honour of being present (at a meeting, etc.); to have the honour of being a member (of a society, etc.); (lit.) to soil the lowest seat by one's presence
concreteness; feasibility
all (that one has); all (that there is); everything; as much as possible; as much as one can; to the utmost
running about; making every effort (to do); busying oneself (with); being busily engaged (in); good offices; efforts
since some time ago; for quite a while; already
late at night; small hours of the morning