Vocabulary

end of a play

never ceasing; never ending

unceasing; never-ending; endless

township and village enterprises (in China); TVE

in a word; to put it briefly; to make a long story short

speed-eating contest

sitting up all night; staying up all night

to become enraged; to blow one's top; to lose it; to flip out

to have to wait (for the realization of something hoped for); to be forced to postpone

insular; closed; unsociable; exclusive

rich soil

man who is popular with women

woman who is popular with men

fashionable hairstyle, particularly to attract members of the opposite sex

time to pay the piper; time to pay the land tax (in kind)

arrival on location

arrival on location

arrival on location (esp. used in transport industries, police, etc.)

to teach someone a lesson; to show someone a thing or two; to show someone what one can do

to have foresight; to be farsighted; to be nimble-witted

to depend on someone for food and lodging

tip of the iceberg

coming to nothing; ending without result; total waste

to come to nothing; to be wasted; to fall through; to end without result

to lose completely; to waste; to let slip away

to fall into disgrace with; to incur someone's displeasure

to give up as hopeless; to wash one's hands (of someone or something)

two incompatible things (or people); (going together like) oil and water

rain that starts to fall as though trying to prevent a guest from leaving; well-timed shower (which prevents a guest from leaving)

without being able to help oneself; against one's will; compelling; pressing; irresistible

being widely talked about as a prominent prospect (for)

to become overly logical; to be hairsplitting

prostitution; call girl business

to be disgusted with; to be fed up with; to run out of patience with

lapis lazuli

citrine; citrine quartz; false topaz

tourmaline

moonstone

pear

deeply impressive; memorable; striking