Vocabulary

out of hand; uncontrollable; out of control; messy

key to a solution; first step toward a solution; thread to unravel a mystery

not expecting in the slightest; not in one's wildest dreams

to get out of hand; to become uncontrollable; to boil over

to have one's faults exposed; to have one's secrets blown

being very good at; strongest point

to have in one's dreams

to make snide remarks; to put into bad mood

the other; the other one

to lend someone one's shoulder; to support with one's shoulder; to help carry a load

to claim victims; to leave casualties

to strike a chord; to tug at one's heartstrings; to resonate

look who's talking; you're one to talk; you can talk

needless to say; obviously; of course

very rare; very unlikely (to happen); scarcely; seldom; improbable; almost never (occurring)

to be seen from the point of view of an onlooker

tappity-tap; tap-tap

from what I've heard; according to reports; from what they say

that's (as in "that's all")

men are the strong base to which women cling; men are pine trees, women are wisteria vines

brief (amount of time); short

resting after a meal is sacrosanct; even if your parents have just died, take a rest after your meal

what can you expect from a child with parents like that?; such parents, such children

et tu, Brute?

to hide from society; to avoid the gaze of society; to keep out of the public eye

good job

to commit suicide; to end one's life; to choose death

barometer of health; measure of good health

despite; in spite of; not worrying about; without fear of

to distinguish; to discern; to make out; to tell

in a little bit; after a short while

it is better to try and fail than never to try at all

to relax; to make oneself comfortable

to hold one's breath

to play a dirty trick; to use underhanded methods; to hit below the belt; to play foul

though one didn't intend (expect) to

to go straight to the point; to cut it short

to be mature and kind; to be well-balanced; to be a good person

after a short pause

in some way or other; in some shape or form; somehow