to lose composure; to be upset; to be flurried; to lose one's head (through shock)
to detain; to check; to restrain; to stop
imitation; fake; phony; pseudo-
blank form; sheets of paper; sheet of paper
condition; state (of health); appearance
none of your business; not your concern
to stand in the way; to bar someone's way; to block the way
wedded life; married life
(verbal) abuse; denunciation; disparagement; vilification; scathing criticism
script; libretto; scenario
to blurt out; to let slip; to say inadvertently; to come out with (e.g. nonsense)
to search for; to seek for; to look for
agent; agent; secret agent; spy
odds and ends; all; every
suggestion; hint; implication
being in a hazy state; being only half conscious; feeling dopey
if you are so inclined; if it suits you; if you like
to lie; to pretend; to feign; to deceive; to trick
before it becomes (verb); before (an undesirable thing occurs)
reckless; (at) random; haphazard; blind; sudden; abrupt
stealing a march on; getting a head start; secretly acting before others; solo raid on an enemy's camp (for glory)
to outwit; to outmanoeuvre; to steal a march on; to get the jump on; to anticipate; to forestall
determining a speaker's true or hidden meaning; determining a speaker's intentions from his manner of speech; (arch.) divining good or bad luck from listening to someone
to coil around; to follow about; to be related to; to concern; to be associated with
overcoat; exceeding; going over; exaggerated; overdone; over par; overexposure
disaster; calamity; misfortune; trouble; woes
to be aware of; to know about; to be concerned in; to have to do with
to take the initiative; to forestall; to beat to the punch
rival; competitor; competition
straight ball (pitch); direct (e.g. question); blunt
apple (fruit); apple tree (Malus pumila)
to peel; to skin; to pare; to bare (teeth, fangs); to open wide (eyes)
in truth; in actuality; at heart; the truth; the real story
to bring into the open; to reveal; to uncover (e.g. evidence); to bring to light
to go smoothly; to turn out well; to do the trick; to have peaceful relations
bet; wager; stake; gamble
elementary; basic; rudimentary
to shake; to jolt; to shake (e.g. the political world); to disturb; to put off a batter (by varying one's type of pitch)
to join in; to have a share in; to get in on the act
conclusion; decision; judgement; affirmative
splendid; fine; handsome; elegant; imposing; prominent
rag; old cloth; tattered clothes; ragged clothes; fault (one is trying to hide); defect
convulsion; cramp; spasm; tic; twitch; fit