shackles; fetters; irons; bonds (e.g. family); ties; binding relationship
technical prowess; technical ability; technical finesse; technological prowess; technological capabilities
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
search (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry; enquiry
only; merely; just; at most; no more than
about; concerning; related to; -ish
power of the state; government authority
stepping (in place); stamping (up and down); stomping; standstill; stalemate
establishing; proving; ascertaining; identifying; confirming
to spread one's roots (of a tree, etc.); to take root (of an ideology, etc.)
to play a leading role; to play a central part
nationwide; countrywide; national; throughout the country
inseparable (esp. bond, relationship); inextricable; joined at the hip; integral; essential; cannot be broken (cut, separated)
enterprise; business; company; corporation
to flicker; to glimmer; to flit; to fall lightly (snow, rain)
flatly rejecting; curtly refusing; beating easily; defeating handily; a kick
over-optimistic calculation; counting one's chickens before they're hatched
without penalty; acquittal; impunity
to kindle; to build a fire; to instigate; to stir up; to incite
stifled (laughter); simmering
fighting scene; scene of carnage (bloodshed); location of the fight between the Asuras and Shakra; difficulties (in a love relationship); crunch time (esp. for cartoonists)
to be suitable; to be appropriate; to match
to experience chest pain; to have a pain in one's chest; to feel sick at heart; to have one's heart ache; to be anguished
phantom; vision; illusion; extremely rare item
to profit; to benefit from; to take advantage of; to make good use of
wrong impression; subjective impression; assumption; prejudice
dying; death; dead; useless; damned
to pity; to feel sympathy for; to sympathize with; (arch.) to enjoy the beauty of; (arch.) to appreciate; (arch.) to admire
final stage; final stretch; live printing area (in publishing); gallery (in a theatre); driving (animals, fish, etc.); herding
excelling; surpassing; outdoing
very; extremely; exceedingly; top; highest; best
to be at one's wits' end; to be cornered; (lit.) to be packed to the hilt
No Entry; No Trespassing; No Admittance; off-limits; restricted; forbidden
to support; to prop; to sustain; to hold at bay; to stem; to check
clever; smart; sharp (ear, etc.); sensitive; discerning
to tidy up; to put in order; to settle (problem); to clear (dispute); to finish; to bring something to an end
suicidal act; self-destroying action; suicidal action
to hint at; to intimate; to suggest; to allude to; to imply
nonsense; irresponsible remark; codswallop; random; haphazard; unsystematic
to make the impossible possible; to accomplish the impossible