plan; trick; plot; stratagem; scheme; trap
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
to join hands together; to join forces; to collaborate
apprehensions; misgivings; uneasiness; anxiety; fear
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
to say in other words; to put another way; to express in different words; to reword; to rephrase
to gain time; to play for time; to buy time
blue; azure; green; pale; gray; unripe
surprise; astonishment; wonder; amazement
lovely; wonderful; nice; great; fantastic; superb
secrecy; confidentiality; privacy; one's circumstances (esp. fiscal)
expectation; anticipation; prediction; forecast; conjecture
making off with (something); absconding; stolen; absconded (with)
betrayer; traitor; turncoat; informer
creation; production; creative work (novel, film, etc.); fabrication; fiction; invention
to do someone in; to bump someone off
distant (from someone); aloof; estranged; knowing little (of); ill-informed (about); ignorant (of)
outside of one's area of expertise
simply put; putting it simply; in short
to bend; to curve; to bend (the truth); to falsify; to corrupt; to sully
life; vitality; verve; vigor; vigour; animation
great hurry; great haste; rush
stairs; rank; grade; guide; guidebook; slanted ladder (exercise equipment)
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
seriousness; earnestness; truth; sanctity
measure; step; countermeasure; counterplan; countermove; strategy
gasping for breath; puffing and panting; wheezing
to stagger; to stumble; to totter; to misconduct oneself; to have a love affair; to waver
disastrous scene; terrible spectacle
being lost for words; becoming speechless; jueju (Chinese quatrain with lines of either five or seven syllables)
continuation; rest (of the story, work, etc.); flow (e.g. of a piece of writing); pacing (of a story); succession (of); sequence
capable person; talented person; human resources; personnel
how many people; a number of people
taking captive; carrying away; kidnapping; kidnaping; abduction
religion; religious affiliation; belief; religious activity
as a matter of fact; really; truly; entirely; completely; wholly