a rookie; a green (as in newly recruited, usually refers to police officers); newly emerged

on the way up; waiting to be promoted [written and colloquial]

to play safe and not take any risk; slowly but surely

paper-mache

not reliable

a paper doll; a piñata; a metaphor to describe useless people

Solid

(verb) get in a position or a state to engage in a gang fight; get ready to attack, assault or fight

put down roots

to be beaten up as a punishment for breaking triad rules [colloquial]

hunger; tighten up waist belt (spoken)

jumping around madly (spoken)

promotion (career; spoken)

Foot binding

bar bending

(verb) the horse stance, which is the leg foundation of Kung Fu

dive

jumping around; lively and animated

station