string instrument; stringed instrument
important position; strategic point; important point; main point; essentials
slowly (but steadily); gradually; bit-by-bit; slowly soaking in; slowly permeating; oozing out
to be noticeable; to notice; to catch one's eye
to yield; to give in; to bend (knee, etc.); to subdue; to overpower; (arch.) to feel down
otherwise; or else; if not
neck; head; dismissal (from a job); firing
vise; vice; capstan; windlass; cargo net
friendship; (on) familiar terms; intimacy; kindness; goodwill
smelling burnt; smelling scorched; smelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out); tense; suspicious; dubious
treatment (of a person); dealing with
proper; appropriate; due; suitable
judgement; judgment; carrying out a sentence (e.g. execution)
invited witness; unsworn witness; person of interest; voluntary interviewee; expert advisor; consultative expert
to move off (into the distance); to become distant; to recede; to drift away (from a person, activity, etc.); to distance oneself (from); to become less frequent (e.g. of visits)
to come near (to); to approach; to be on the verge of; to be about to reach (a stage, period, etc.); to overhang; to hang over
well-known only to those in the know; well-known but to the few; well-known to a connoisseur
talks (i.e. formal discussions); conference; meeting
understanding person; supporter
to facilitate; to make easy; to simplify
to grovel; to go down on one's hands and knees
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
toes; tips of the toes; toe of a shoe, sock, etc.
to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge; to peck at (one's food); to pick at; to peck at (someone's faults, etc.); to egg on
to scorn; to despise; to hold in contempt; to look down on; to disdain
filth (esp. excrement, feces, urine); muck; waste; garbage; dirt; dust
skilled; skillful; skilful; competent; capable; good
to (go and) do; to make (a blunder, mess, etc.); to perpetrate; to achieve; to accomplish; to pull off
time to pay the piper; (lit.) time to pay the land tax (in kind)
to pity; to feel sympathy for; to sympathize with; to sympathise with; to commiserate with; to have mercy on
power; authority; influence
worthless; insignificant; unimportant; poor; miserable; wretched
study; pursuit of knowledge
meanwhile; in the meantime