spy; agent provocateur; covert operative; maker; builder; constructor
observer; watchman; lifeguard
the big two...; two major...; two main...
diversionary tactics (maneuvering); disguise; hide by camouflage
incineration; destroy by fire
control; bringing under control; settling (a matter); putting in order
to be dead; to be lifeless
to understand; to comprehend; to become clear; to be known; I know!; I think so too!
striding; swaggering; strutting; lording it over others; acting as though one owns the place; throwing one's weight around
special; auspicious; happy; naive; innocent; good-natured
human intellect; knowledge
surveillance system; monitoring system
interception; monitoring; tapping
swelling; enlargement; becoming fat; hypertrophy
therapeutic agent; remedy; medicine; drug; cure
discord; breaking up (e.g. friendship)
internal conditions; true state of affairs
person who is ignorant of the real world; (lit.) frog in a well
key person; important person
to happen to hear; to overhear
how it came about; how it originated; how it happened; the origins of the imbroglio
(water-filled) paddy field
eternal; everlasting; unchangeable; invariant
place to die; place of death
existing (between); interposition; intervention; involvement
passing through (a tunnel, station, town, etc.); passing by (e.g. of a typhoon); passage (of a bill, e.g. through parliament); carriage; passing (an examination, inspection, etc.); clearing
pair of lovers; girlfriend and boyfriend
making something strong even stronger; solidifying something's chances; (lit.) (giving) a metal rod to an ogre
last night; the previous night; night before (Christmas, etc.); eve (of festival, major event, etc.)
judgement; judgment; expert opinion; appraisal
misrecognition; mistaking (x for y)
sometimes; occasionally; now and then; from time to time
a drowning man will catch at a straw
to prove one's innocence; to clear oneself of a false accusation
achievement; meritorious deed; distinguished service; contribution
different view; alternative theory; dissenting view
bizarre theory; strange theory; wild theory
to jump at; to be attracted by
better safe than sorry; one should err on the side of caution
secrecy; highly classified information
to coquet (of a woman); to entice a customer (of a prostitute); to flatter; to butter up
to gain a reliable foundation and be in a safe condition; to rest easy; (lit.) to board a large ship