expansion; extension; magnification; enlargement; escalation; spread
to claim victims; to cause casualties
reinforcement (e.g. of troops)
rebel; traitor; insurgent
(outward) appearance; (proper) format (e.g. of an essay); form; appearances; decency; lip-service
superficial; half-hearted; shallow
lukewarm; tepid; half-hearted; vague; lenient; mild
picked troops; elite soldiers; crack troops
loyalty; sincerity; allegiance; fidelity; integrity
a piece; a scrap; a fragment; iota; modicum; trace
to neglect; to be negligent in; to be neglectful of; to improve (of an illness); to get better
setting on fire; setting afire
defensive measure; defense plan
conversion; shift; about-face; switch
to fill a hole with earth
huge rock; firmness; solidity
to use as an intermediary; to mediate; to assist; to worry; to mind; to care
secret passage; underground passage; loophole; hole one can go through; opening
to collect (debts); to dun; to appoint; to promote; to emphasize; to focus on
to devote oneself; to do one thing exclusively; to make a job of; to decide to
ordinary; average; run-of-the-mill
negative; passive; half-hearted; unmotivated
disposal; throwing away; dealing with (a problem); measure; punishment; penalty
to escape (disaster, death, etc.); to be saved from; to be rescued from; to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert
backwater; (arch.) standing with one's back to water (river, lake, etc.)
holding a castle (during a siege); holing up; confinement (to one's home); staying at home; staying indoors
the whole company; the party; attendance (at a gathering); presence; banquet; dinner; troupe
to be in the news; to be talked about; to become a popular topic of conversation; to become the talk of the town; to become topical
to be suitable; to be appropriate; to match
intentionally; deliberately; designedly; especially; particularly
inhabitant; resident; citizen; population
control (of a machine, device, etc.); control (over an opponent, one's emotions, etc.); governing; management
to miss (doing); to fail (to do); to do without
contradiction; inconsistency
(find) common (meeting) ground
daytime; during the day; Japan and China; Japanese-Chinese; Sino-Japanese