last moment; eleventh hour; platform made of dirt used to perform executions (decapitations) in the Edo period
evasion; excuse; subterfuge; runaround
just as one thought; as usual; sure enough
to fall into someone's hands; to pass into another's possession
to take over; to hand over
inference; deduction; induction; reasoning
to borrow; to have a loan; to rent; to hire
will; volition; intention; intent; determination
circumference; outskirts; environs; (computer) peripheral
large (amount of money); huge; hefty; expensive
cash; ready money; money on hand; mercenary; self-interested; calculating
just as; in the act of; as soon as; at the moment that
laughingstock; butt of ridicule
fingers; fingertips; underling; stooge; tool
public matter; governmental matter; prince; duke; lord; sir
official; governmental; public (use, matter, forum, etc.); common; being public knowledge; being out in the open
acquisition (esp. corporate); buy-out; takeover; bribery; buying off; corruption
pardon; forgiveness; exemption; permission
destination; whereabouts; future; prospects
from now; from the present moment; from this time forward; henceforth
treachery; betrayal; perfidy
in the first place; to begin with; after all; anyway; beginning; start
tough guy; wild one; fearless fighter
naturally; of course; understandably
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe and humor (humour)
state secrets; secrets of the state
to surround; to encircle; to besiege; to lay siege to; to play (go, shogi, etc.)
all present; all concerned; all of us
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
plan; scheme; plot; design; project; intention
to give up; to abandon (hope, plans); to resign oneself (to)
to ascertain; to make sure of; to determine; to probe; to get to the bottom (of something)
reasoning; inference; deduction; mystery or detective genre
recovery; rescue; recapture
based on; built on; made from
to be helpful; to be useful
pardon; forgiveness; tolerance; leniency; mercy; going easy (on someone)
abuse; ill-treatment; maltreatment; mistreatment; cruelty