Vocabulary

cannot be treated lightly; requiring careful attention; cannot be ignored

will not do; do not; does not

to give one's first cry (of a newborn baby)

cannot be avoided (of a problem, etc.); unavoidable; inevitable

since one was born; (in) all one's life

taking whatever one can get one's hands on; being greedy; accepting a padded silk sleeve even in summer

the fish rots from the head; decay starts at the top

attacking one opponent then immediately attacking another

(the) haves; those who have

have-nots

slow; dull; stupid; sluggish; lazy; tedious

I would be most grateful if you could ...; I would humbly ask that you ...; please ...

incomparable; cannot compare (with); beyond comparison; in another league

to tingle with excitement; to be full of excitement; to be thrilled

to be spattered by blood from one's victim

to open up to someone else; to divulge one's true feelings; to be openhearted

or something; or something like that; or words to that effect

day of the Snake

day of the Horse

day of the Sheep

day of the Monkey

day of the Dog (in the traditional calendar; associated with safe childbirth)

day of the Boar

good things come to those who wait; if you wait, there will come a fine day of nectar (falling from the sky)

art brings bread

being able to live as an artist is no blessing

don't act all high and mighty just because you don't drink; no teetotaler has (ever) built a storehouse

a teetotaler doesn't know (how tasty) water is when waking up after having been drunk

drinkers drink too much (and harm themselves in the process), nondrinkers drink too little (and miss out on the medicinal benefits of alcohol)

I want to send a (love) letter but I cannot write

for gifts, it's the thought that counts

we have our rules, they have theirs; our house, our rules

to get the short end of the stick; to get the bad side of a bargain; to draw the joker (when playing Old Maid)

to achieve results; to be successful (in a venture, etc.)

once in a lifetime; once in one's life

don't try to force good things to happen

putting the cart before the horse

fearless; daring; knowing no fear

skillfully; admirably; really well; excellently

quirk of fate; twist of fate; (an) irony