black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
originator; ringleader; perpetrator; main culprit; person responsible
what?!; what did you say?!; why?; what for?; anyone; anything
expectation; anticipation; prediction; forecast; conjecture
to deceive; to falsify; to dodge; to beg the question (issue, difficulties); to varnish over; to gloss over
using every trick (in the book)
to a greater or lesser extent (degree); more or less
important; serious; valuable; precious; serious matter; major incident
biggest; greatest; largest; maximum
to notice; to recognize; to recognise; to become aware of; to perceive; to realize
to get back; to regain; to recover; to make up (for); to catch up on
to endure; to keep out (e.g. rain); to pull through; to get over; to surpass; to outdo
as usual; as is one's habit
implication; nuance; shade of meaning; connotation
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
life; existence; (one's) working life; career; life force; lifeblood
planning; project; plan; design
shellfish; seashell; shell
boat to transport mud; (fictional) boat made of (dried) mud
spare time; free time; time (e.g. time it takes to do something); time off; day off; quitting (one's job); firing someone
university student; college student
study; research; investigation
century; hundred years; (fig.) a long time
on bad terms; at loggerheads
to snarl (at each other); to growl (angrily); to quarrel; to fight; to argue
atmosphere; mood; a certain air; presence; (Earth's) atmosphere
ownership; dominion; ownership rights; proprietorship; property rights
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
hmm; well ...; humph; roughly; harshly; violently
final; eventual; ultimate
judicial decision made with human kindness and warmth in a fair manner
to join (hands); to take (each other's hands); to scramble for; to struggle for; to pay attention to; to take notice of
discord; (on) bad terms (with)
ago; since; before; previous
best friend; very close friend