being irresistible; being furiously vigorous; being intensely forceful
usurpation; taking back; dispossession
absorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)
wind direction; situation; way things are going; mood; temper
now advancing and now retreating; ebb and flow; seesawing; taking alternately favorable and unfavorable turns
losing a battle; lost battle; battle one cannot win; battle one is doomed to lose
commander-in-chief; supreme commander
commandant; commanding officer; general
confinement; imprisonment; incarceration
to take shape; to look good enough to be shown publicly
order; observance; discipline; rules; law; regulations
to correct; to rectify; to reform; to straighten (one's posture, collar, etc.); to adjust
strategist; tactician; schemer
half; 50%; tie; 5 parts; 5%
gorgeous; gaudy; dazzling; gay; resplendent
debt trap; debt hell; being in debt up to one's ears
personal feelings; self-interest
savage (barbaric) land; backward region; undeveloped area
retirement (from work); leading a quiet life (after retirement); retired person; retiree; surrendering headship of the family (pre-WWII)
to accomplish; to achieve; to carry out; to arrive at (a certain outcome); to come to; to end with
white (bleached) bone; skeleton
without cause; without reason
to win and advance to the next round
having said that; on the other hand
rather; sooner; preferably
winning over; placation; gentle persuasion
to think of; to hit upon; to come into one's mind; to remember; to recall
poor-quality; low-quality; shoddy; low-grade
to probe someone's real intentions; to sound someone out; to try to fathom someone's thoughts
keeping a domestic animal beyond its useful life; keeping a person on the payroll without utilizing their skills
letter affixed to an arrow
not having enough workers; being understaffed; being undermanned; having nothing one can do about something; having no options
doubt; misgivings; distrust; suspicion
to resume breathing; to come around; to come back to life
operation to win over someone by using a tactic of gentle persuasion
assistance (in a fight); help; aid; helper; supporter
it seems so; that's what it looks like
to keep in contact (e.g. by phone, mail, etc.); to keep in touch
groping (for); fumbling around (for); searching (for an answer, solution, etc.); trying to find
to build up; to establish; to form; to become (a state); to accomplish; to achieve; to change into
to become exaggerated (of rumours, etc.); to become embellished