(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
qualifications; requirements; capabilities
underling; person of low standing; grunt; petty (work, official, etc.); minor; lowly
yes?; no?; isn't it?; is it?
(weather) front; front line; forward area; action zone
yes; sure; gotcha; sycophantically; servilely; fawningly
after all; in the end; anyway; (cannot) possibly; (not) at all; (not) by any means
playing; play (margin between on and off, gap before pressing button or lever has an effect)
to cut corners; to be shoddy
but I suppose; it seems; probably; I guess
to grapple with; to wrestle with; to engage in a bout; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to come to grips with; to work hard on
dull; uninteresting; insignificant; unimportant; absurd; foolish
serious look (on one's face); straight face
old friend; old acquaintance
measure; step; countermeasure; counterplan; countermove; strategy
able; capable; competent; talented; efficient
invitation; solicitation; canvassing; canvasing; inducement; persuasion
to keep; to preserve; to hold; to last; to endure; to keep well (food)
to lean against; to set against
middle; centre; center; midpoint; heart
with profound (often hidden) meaning; pregnant with significance; meaningful; suggestive; interesting
recollection; retrospection; reflection; reminiscence
odious; hateful; detestable; (speaking ironically) darling
aloneness; loneliness; solitude
to crowd; to flock; to swarm
by nature; naturally; by birth; innately; congenitally
ill will; spite; bad meaning; mala fides; bad faith; malice
to exude (e.g. sweat); to ooze; to seep out; to reveal itself (of emotions, etc.)
to take a peep at; to catch a glimpse of
joints; points (of a speech)
bluff; false show of power; bold front
to go against; to fight against; to oppose; to resist; to deny
art; technique; means; way; trick; trap
to hold one's breath; to bate one's breath