Vocabulary

erudition and extensive knowledge

carte blanche; blank check; blank cheque; unconditional authority

being returned (sent back) to the drawing board

wide knowledge and versatile talents; profound learning and varied attainments

complete revocation; total retraction

bombshell announcement (declaration)

bombshell announcement (statement)

openly and in broad daylight

sophistry; sophism; false syllogism

erudition and extensive knowledge; widely read and well-informed

full impact; packing a punch

exposure tactics; muckraking tactics

novel written in colloquial Chinese

government (public policy) focusing on the construction of public (community) buildings

The Eight Greater Hells

evildoers being rampant and roaming at will

great strength and energy (of a mighty hero); Herculean strength and vitality

the whole enormous extent of Edo; from one side of Edo to the other

deciding to embrace Buddhism; deciding to seek enlightenment; seeking to have religious awakening

eradication of (sources of) evil; laying the ax to the root of evil

leading actor; star actress; top-billed performer

school for training bachelor girls in homemaking arts; (a type of) finishing school

training for homemaking; training in homemaking arts; domestic training

balance of power among factions (within a political party); factional balance

factional infighting (conflict); antagonism between factions

faction-based personnel appointment

factional dynamics; power relationships among factions; factional power politics

being moderate in eating; stopping short of stuffing oneself

half lotus position (meditation posture); sitting with one foot placed on the opposite thigh

worldwide; common to the whole world; universal

very tall person

half asleep and half awake

matters that should be reflected on; points in need of review

half awake and half asleep

anticonventional spirit; spirit of resisting convention

forces of opposition; opposing forces; counterforce

odd job

being a match for thousands; being a mighty warrior (combatant)

jealousy and enmity; being jealous of and at odds with (each other)

anguish; agony