to be taken aback; to be astonished; to be dumbfounded
to become serious; to take something seriously (joke, teasing); to become irritated or angry (usu. at something trivial); to get worked up
fanatic; fanatic believer; zealot
egregious; outrageous; too much; over the top
to put it in an extreme way; to put it in extreme terms
now that you mention it; come to think of it; that reminds me; on that subject; speaking of which
entering a faith; joining a religion
back; backing; going backwards; background; backdrop; backhand; backer
remote past; far ago; time immemorial
foreign country; other country; another province; strange land; alien land
ignorance; innocence; stupidity
fanaticism; zealotry; blind devotion
according to; by (means of); due to; because of
stain; blot; flaw; disgrace
brutal; cruel; merciless; ruthless; cold-blooded
good deed; good conduct; benevolence
aphorism; epigram; witticism; bon mots
fellow traveler; fellow traveller; travelling companion; taking someone along unwillingly (e.g. in death); forcing to take part
east and west; Orient and Occident; East and West; ladies and gentlemen!; your attention, please!
to plan; to form a plan; to scheme; to envision; to intend to do
to support (a theory, claim, etc.); to back up; to substantiate; to prove
moving about; stirring about
vague; ambiguous; shady; disreputable; fuzzy
to sink; to go under; to go down (e.g. sun); to set; to feel depressed; to become subdued
match; game; bout; contest
better; preferable; more; increase; (arch.) increase; (arch.) growth
can do; may do; be capable of doing
to push aside; to brush or thrust aside; to remove; to get rid of
you could say; you might say; verging on the