continent; continental Asia (esp. mainland China); continental Europe
to arrive at (e.g. a decision); to reach (a stage); to lead to (a place); to get to; in the extreme case of; (arch.) to come
centre of explosion; center of explosion; hypocentre; hypocenter; ground zero
to drill; to bore; to hit the mark; to get to the heart of (the matter); (arch.) to put on; (arch.) to wear
hole; opening; pit; hollow; burrow; den; deficit
which (of three or more); well; now; c'mon
deep; profound; dense; thick; close (relationship); intense; strong
having not the slightest idea
present age; present day; today; modern era; modern times
technology; engineering; technique; skill; art; craft
possible; potential; practicable; feasible
origin; source; history; originally; from the start; by nature
to rise to the surface; to come to the front; to emerge (e.g. from obscurity); to stand out (e.g. against a dark background)
darkness; the dark; bewilderment; despair; hidden place; secrecy
the way in which something came about; origin; structure; organization; the way something is constructed
complete; completion; perfection; accomplishment
almost; roughly; approximately
the same; the said; likewise
time; season; period; phase; stage
to add; to add up; to increase; to gather (e.g. speed); to include; to count in
still; even now; to this day
disorder; chaos; confusion; mayhem
to take advantage of one's carelessness; to perform a surprise attack
hegemony; leadership; initiative
to snatch (and run); to carry off; to swipe; to scoop up (and remove; sand, earth, etc.)
period; time; opportunity; chance; age; term (e.g. in office); session (e.g. of parliament)
influence; clout; leverage
rising; developing; emergent; burgeoning; new
influence; power; might; strength; potency; force
to fall behind; to lag behind; to lose (race, contest)
impossible; unlikely; improbable
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
(please) try to; (please) look; seeing; looking
state; condition; the way things should be; ideal state; truth
to enter; to trespass; to interfere; to meddle; to pry into
excelling; surpassing; outdoing
to build up one's strength; to get stronger; to give (someone) strength; to cheer (someone) up; to encourage (someone)
background; scenery; background (of an incident, situation, etc.); circumstances; backing; support (from behind the scenes)
what is it (that); the meaning of something; what something is about
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
weird; ominous; eerie; uncanny; ghastly
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
true character; true form; true colors (colours); consciousness; one's senses