smoke screen; dazzler; camouflage; deceptive means; magic; witchcraft
ordinary person; run-of-the-mill people; John Doe; Jane Doe
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
bottom of one's heart; depths of one's mind; innermost thoughts; from the bottom of one's heart; wholeheartedly; truly
tangent point; point of contact; contact (electrical, etc.); point of agreement; common ground
negotiations; discussions; connection
materials; ingredients; material (for a novel, experiment, etc.); subject matter; grounds (for a decision, judgement, etc.); basis
idea; plan; draft; rough copy; expectation; (arch.) desk
to forestall; to beat to the punch; to anticipate; to play the first move (e.g. in go)
to take advantage of one's carelessness; to perform a surprise attack
wonderful; splendid; magnificent
with a click; with a snap; ornamental clip (hair, obi, etc.)
standing facing each other (e.g. mountains, buildings); standing opposite each other; confrontation; squaring off against (adversaries, armies, forces); standing off against
before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
this is not the time (for that); that's out of the question right now
straying; wandering off course
to stop; to abort; to discontinue; to close
event; phenomenon; matter
at any rate; in any event; either way; anyway
I'm afraid to say; I'm sorry to say; unfortunately
to mistake someone for someone else; to misread; to misjudge
eternity; perpetuity; permanence; immortality
cool-headed; level-headed; hard-headed
deviation; departure; omission
course correction; trajectory change; orbital adjustment
advantages and disadvantages; interests (of parties)
coincidence; agreement; conformity; consistency; cooperation
origin; beginning; source; rise
cause; seed; variety; kind; counter for varieties
elegance; grace; article; item; counter for items (of food, etc.); counter for dishes or courses (at a restaurant)
to plunder; to grab; to snatch
injury; harm; evil influence; damage
to remove; to deinstall; to take away; to set apart
to house; to contain; to carry (a baby); to be pregnant; (arch.) to give lodging to; (arch.) to accommodate
proof; testimony; demonstration; verification; certification
to swallow (e.g. a story); to accept without questioning; to swallow (food) whole; to gobble up; to gulp down
to ascertain; to make sure of; to determine; to probe; to get to the bottom (of something)
insight; discernment; perception; perspicacity; acumen
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)