common sense; good sense; common knowledge; general knowledge; common practice; accepted practice
to repaint; to paint again; to break (a record); to rewrite; to remake
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
exchange (e.g. cultural); interchange; interaction; alternating current; AC
to take good care of; to treasure; to value; to hold dear; to prize; to cherish
to guide; to lead; to show the way; to derive; to deduce
friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
air; atmosphere; mood; situation; someone with no presence; someone who doesn't stand out at all
complete change; about-face
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)
(outward) looks; features; face; countenance; expression
preface; introduction; lead in (to a joke, question, etc.); lead up; payment in advance (by bank transfer); swinging (one's body) forward
the end; closing; being done for; that's it; that's enough; that's all
indeed; really; absolutely; truly; actually; very
to reach; to amount to; to be up to the task; to come up to; to compare with; to be a match (for)
extent; scope; sphere; range; span
all; everything; entirety; absolutely (not); (not) at all; (none) whatsoever
space (between); gap; period of time (during, while); duration; between (two parties or things); among (a group); relations (between)
magnification; enlargement; expansion; amplification
(suffering) damage; injury; harm
very great; enormous; serious
to live (of humans); to reside; to inhabit; to dwell; to abide
mostly; nearly; practically; well-nigh; almost invariably; all but
to force; to compel; to coerce; to press; to impose
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
fortune; riches; goods; incorporated foundation
to level (earth); to cut through (a mountain); to split (the opposition); to break (strike)
support; backing; aid; assistance
poverty; need; destitution; having great difficulty with; struggling greatly with; being in distress
the future (usually distant); future tense; the world to come
to come along; to come around; to turn up; to arrive at the present; to get where one is; to have been doing something (for a period of time)
difficult problem; challenge
to spend time (on doing something)
bad influence; negative influence
to want; to wish for; to request; to demand; to seek; to search for
way; method; means; resource; course
negotiations; discussions; connection
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
to raise an objection; to voice an opinion different from those of others
just like that; quite so; I agree; (lit.) that street