To count on something happening（見込みの通りに事が展開することを期待する）

→“How disappointing! I was banking on your completing the project on time.”

→“Don’t bank on the proposed tax reduction. It may not come true.”

A problem or difficulty that is not obvious or revealed（隠された問題や難点）

→“This may sound like a great investment opportunity, but it comes with a catch.”

→“The catch is that you are not eligible for citizenship unless you have lived in this country for at least 10 years straight”

To make something appear less important or significant than it actually is（実際より重要でないような印象を与える）

→“The school officials tried to downplay the damage inflicted on its facilities by the hurricane.”

→“The rebel military leader downplays his links to the terrorist group.”

On the way（～の途上）

→“We stopped over in Hawaii en route to Australia.”

→“The first shipment of the new product is en route.”

A concerned or worried state of mind; a troublesome situation（不安・懸念がある心境、困った状態）

→“I am in a funk about being the MC at the upcoming event.”

→“Buying American will not lift the sluggish economy out of a funk.”

A statement or action intended to give oneself an advantage in a dispute or negotiation（議論や交渉で有利に事を展開できるよう意図的に計画された発言や行動）

→“Your joke at the beginning of the discussion was a clever opening gambit.”

→“To make fun of the opponent’s life style is sometimes a smart debating gambit.”

To keep a promise; to respect and abide by an agreement（約束や同意条項を守る）

→“My husband and I are proud that our daughter honors her commitment to do the house chores every day.”

→“The political allies were reassured by the new prime minister that the previous agreements will be honored.”

To compete or argue against one another; to vie（競い合う、議論する）

→“The the two main parties jousted with each other in the Parliament.”

→“The contenders are jousting over key political issues.”

A situation of multiple problems preventing progress（複数の問題が進歩を阻んでいる状態）

→“I am in a logjam. I have to take control of my life and get my act together.”

→“To break the economic logjam, the government decided to take radical reform measures.”

A deliberately unclear and ambiguous person, keeping ideas and facts hidden（意図的に不明確・曖昧な人）

→“Don’t be such an obscurantist. Tell it to me straight.”

→“His obscurantist argument is misleadingly appealing to many people.”

To eagerly listen to and comply with someone’s wish/request（迎合する、甘やかす）

→“After the interview, I decided not to pursue this position. The manager is obviously looking for a junior partner who would pander to his every whim.”

→“In order to get re-elected, lawmakers often pander to the electorate’s demands no matter how extreme they may be.”

A concern, worry or doubt（気がかり、不安、疑念）

→“She decided to drop her qualms and join him on the vacation trip in Hawaii.”

→“The government finally put aside its qualms to recognize the protesters’ demands.”

Feelings of anger and hatred（怒りと憎しみの感情）

→“The victim recounted his experience with controlled rancor.”

→“US Congress is dysfunctional, damaged by internal rancor.”

A deceiver（詐欺師、嘘つき）

→“Don’t get into any business partnership with that scoundrel.”

→“Public opinion remains undecided if he is a scoundrel or a scapegoat.”