aloof; proudly independent; standing apart; solitary
another name; nickname; alias; synonym
state secrets; secrets of the state
quite unconcerned; nonchalant
to set one's hand to; to start work on; to embezzle; to use (money obtained in illegal fashion); to have sexual relations; to have an affair
proficient; skilled; skillful; enjoying to the full; full satisfaction; being satiated (with)
meddling; fumbling; fondling; playing around with something
about the same; about equal to; close match
to hesitate to; to waver; to be hesitant about
fence; paling; railing; (arch.) fortress
formation; molding; making (up); repair (e.g. with plastic surgery); replacement; -plasty
waste (of money, time, etc.); squandering; frittering away
to face (a situation); to encounter; to be confronted with
standard; criterion; norm; benchmark; measure; gauge
uphill task; difficult undertaking (project)
to take up a lot of space; to throw one's weight around; to exercise one's authority
wise; sensible; well-advised; intelligent; sagacious; prudent
mediator; go-between; middleman
programme; program; plans; arrangements
collapsing in the middle of a bout; breaking down (while in the middle of something); faltering halfway
loss of strength; exhaustion; weakness
hands and feet; limbs; person at one's beck and call; person at hand; reliable worker
start; beginning; starting (e.g. a race); departing; starting point
root (of a plant); stump (of a tree); root (of a problem, etc.); base
clause; article; stipulations
relationship of mutual trust; fiduciary relation
sense of emptiness; empty feeling; feeling of meaninglessness
unbelievable; incredible; implausible
to hang one's head; to look down; to cast one's eyes downward
unrealistic; impractical; infeasible; unreal
to cling to; to hang onto; to rely on; to depend on; to implore; to entreat
to prove one's innocence; to clear oneself of a false accusation
pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
overheating; excessive heating; superheating (heating a liquid above its boiling point without causing it to boil); going to excess; running too hot
to die down (of a fire); to be brought under control; to decline; to wane; to fall off
rise (e.g. of a movement); emergence; rearing one's head; gaining prominence; coming to the fore; gaining power
fickle; capricious; inconstant; changeable; whimsical
to notice; to realize; to be attentive; to be scrupulous; to regain consciousness; to come to (one's senses)
surprise attack; surprise visit; catching a person off guard
to snap; to break (under pressure)