private talk; confidential talk; secret talk
to come near (to); to approach; to be on the verge of; to be about to reach (a stage, period, etc.); to overhang; to hang over
having a loose tongue; being talkative; speaking without thinking; being unable to keep a secret
acquisition; obtaining; procurement; getting (hold of)
to wait for one's chance; to wait for an opportunity
joint ownership; co-ownership; sharing (e.g. a viewpoint); sharing (files, devices on a network, posts on social media, etc.)
inspection; reading; perusal; browsing (the web)
presumption; assumption; estimation
naturally; in due course; by itself; of its own accord
to be noticeable; to notice; to catch one's eye
diligent; earnest; attentive to detail; brisk (working, moving); frequent (e.g. checking)
having nothing to do; having time on one's hands (and not knowing what to do); being at a loose end; being bored
emotion; feeling; atmosphere; mood; spirit
pending question; unresolved problem
trace; vestige; mark; sign; evidence
difficult; tough; formidable; redoubtable; stubborn
to reason; to sum up; to conclude
tearing up and discarding (e.g. documents); destruction; annulment; cancellation; reversal (of an original ruling on appeal); quashing
to show one's true colors (colours); to expose one's faults; to give oneself away
trap (for catching animals); snare; trap; trick; ruse
to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
origin; genesis; opening; start; beginning
leak (of secrets, information, etc.); disclosure; divulging; leak (of gas, liquid, etc.); leakage; escape (of gas)
faculty (of a university); school; college; department
to be lacking a trump card; to be lacking conclusive evidence
to step into (e.g. someone else's territory); to break into; to raid; to come to grips with; to get to the core of
portable earthen charcoal brazier (for cooking)
that's a different matter; that's a different story
dramatic decrease; sharp drop; sudden fall
cut; reduction; curtailment
stronghold; inner citadel; base; headquarters
to knock down; to tear down; to crush (e.g. enemy); to throw into confusion; to refute; to pick apart
positive; assertive; active; proactive; aggressive
source of funds; source of money
mole; whistle-blower; informant; adulterer; adulteress