ruin; wreck; mere skeleton; framework
pleasant to look at; easy to see
to go before; to precede; to forestall; to anticipate
deep sea; depths of the sea; ocean depths
to get entangled (with each other); to get muddled together
clever scheme; outlandish plan; unusual plan
the wrong hands; hands of evil
certified (as genuine, valuable, etc.); guaranteed (article); of established reputation; acknowledged; pièce de résistance
providence; luck; favor; favour; advantage
demanding; difficult; strict
master thief; notorious robber
having special circumstances (e.g. problems, issues, advantages, flaws, defects, etc.); imperfect (merchandise); with defects
to conspire; to act in collusion; to be hand-in-glove
intention; plan; purpose; belief; assumption; thought
peerless; unequaled; unequalled
something to wear; clothes
quick-witted; quick to understand
to leave one's footprints; to leave one's mark on; to leave a message (behind)
fame; distinction; rise; advancement
short end of the stick; short straw; unlucky number; blank; bad bargain
starting afresh; going back to square one; abandoning (e.g. a plan); clearing an abacus
willow (any tree of genus Salix); weeping willow (Salix babylonica)
which reminds me ...; come to think of it ...; now that you mention it ...; on that subject ...; so, if you say ...
ease; relaxation; comfort; unwinding
whole day and night; 24 hours
to learn something through hearing
jewel; gem; gem (of a story, essay, etc.); accomplished work; beautiful piece
to hack; to chop (firewood, meat, etc.); to chop off (e.g. a head)
villainous; rascally; knavish; (arch.) independent; (arch.) self-reliant
to rewind; to rally; to recover; to come back
to give someone a surprise; to catch off guard and fluster; to frustrate (e.g. someone's plans); to give someone a blow; to scare the hell out of