as if; as it were; as though; right then; just then; at that moment
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
dignitaries; very important persons; VIPs
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
reinforcement (e.g. of troops)
long ago; already; a long time ago
to paint over; to paint out; to fill in; to cover completely (with paint)
old people; seniors; elders; old-timer
idea; plan; draft; rough copy; expectation; (arch.) desk
boasting; big talk; bombast; Australian English
receiving in advance (e.g. wages, interest); taking before others; anticipation; being ahead of (e.g. the times); prefetch; anticipatory completion (i.e. finishing another's sentence)
mediation; agency; carrying (germs, diseases, etc.); transmission; mediation
temperature; body temperature (human, animal)
association (of ideas); being reminded (of something); suggestion
showing no signs of; there being no hint of; (arch.) unthinkable
transactions; dealings; business
remote place; backcountry; the sticks; hinterland
breaking off short (in one's speech); rendered speechless for a moment
inscrutable; incomprehensible
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
on the way; en route; in the process of (development, construction, etc.); in the middle of
naturalization; naturalisation
coordinator; coordinating role
opposite effect; adverse effect; backfiring
both people; two people; two directions; both directions
to neglect; to leave undone; to lay aside
weak (constitution); sickly; feeble; in poor health
information; experience; observation; seeing and hearing
to brush away; to sweep aside; to repel (e.g. enemy); to drive away; to rout
contriving (to raise funds, to find time, etc.); working out (a solution)
faulty maintenance; poor maintenance; inadequate maintenance
firstborn; first child; eldest child
unusual; unwonted; uncharacteristic
difficult problem; challenge
primeval; primordial; primitive; pristine
no matter what; whatever happens; in any situation; rain or shine