retreat; falling back; recession; waning; backspace (key)
companion; company; tritagonist
inquiry into; enquiry into; prying (into); investigation; search; exploration
(cutting) with a single stroke; lopping off (branches, etc.); (cutting hair) short; drastically (slash a budget, etc.); resolutely; ruthlessly (discard, etc.)
to cut down; to slay; to truncate; to round down; to omit; to discard
going to work; leaving for work; attendance (at work); being at work; presence (in the office); reporting for work
it is ... that ...; precisely; although; while; it is precisely because ... that ...; only because ...
one's post; one's position; one's station; one's round; one's beat; one's route
to loaf (particularly on the job); to idle one's time away; to dawdle
yes; sure; gotcha; sycophantically; servilely; fawningly
to lose one's way; to get lost; to waver; to hesitate; to give into temptation; to lose control of oneself
more or less; though not quite satisfactorily; tentatively; for the time being; just in case; once
close associate; close aide; brains-truster
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
(laughing) foolishly; (smiling) thoughtlessly; indiscreetly (talking); carelessly (speaking); thin (paper, cloth, etc.); flimsy
to anyone; to everyone; by anyone; by everyone; in everyone; in anyone
to meet (by chance); to come across; to meet (e.g. of rivers, highways, etc.); to emerge and engage (an enemy)
(a) step; one step; level; stage; small degree; small amount
to step forward; to step forth; to advance; to start; to embark on; to set forth on
to go past; to pass; to pass by
ear; hearing; edge; crust; selvedge (non-fray machined edge of fabrics); selvage
mess; jumble; muddle; chaos
energy; vigour; vigor; liveliness; spirit; life
to be awash with; to teem with; to be full of
after a long time; for the first time in a while
peculiarity; uniqueness; characteristic
to be enlivened; to be exhilarated
hypothesis; supposition; assumption
greed; worldly or materialistic desires
to lose; to miss (a change, opportunity); to lose (a loved one); to be bereaved of; to concede (goals, points, etc.)
long (time that has passed); old (story)
to become loose; to slacken (e.g. rope); to become less tense; to relax; to slacken (e.g. coldness, supervision); to become lax; to become softer (e.g. ground, facial expression)
to be fascinated (by); to be captivated by; to be enchanted by; to gaze admiringly at; to watch in fascination
tempting thing; (too much of a) temptation; something that shouldn't be seen; thing damaging to the eyes
to associate with; to keep company with; to go out with; to go along with; to follow someone's lead; to accompany someone
early summer; fourth month of the lunar calendar
to come near; to approach; to be on the verge of; to be about to; to overhang; to hang over
time; season; period; phase; stage
cheerful; jovial; weather; season; spirit of yang
walking; strolling; roaming; wandering; exploring