serious; not joking; straight
key; lock; key (to a problem); clue
disqualification; elimination; incapacity; being unfit for one's role; being a failure
impregnable castle; inner castle citadel; golden castle (nickname for Nagoya Castle)
recently; lately; these days; nearest; closest
going in and out; entering and exiting; visiting regularly; frequenting; income and expenditure; incomings and outgoings; increase and decrease
seeming ...; appearing ...; -ish; like a ...; typical of ...
cancellation; liquidation; resolution; reduction (e.g. of stress)
to associate with; to keep company with; to go out with; to go along with; to follow someone's lead; to accompany someone
with a view to marriage; with marriage in mind
declining; refusal; nonacceptance; turning down; withdrawal (e.g. of candidacy); pulling out (e.g. of a race)
life; life force; lifetime; lifespan; most important thing; foundation