ministry; department; province (of China); saving; conserving
to help; to assist; to aid; to contribute to; to be a factor in
close (e.g. in terms of relationship); intimate
childhood friend; friend from infancy; old playmate
look; glimpse; apparently; seemingly; (arch.) first meeting
perhaps; likely; probably; I dare say
mostly; nearly; practically; well-nigh; almost invariably; all but
human being; human; person; character (of a person)
idiot; moron; trivial matter; folly; stupid; foolish
point in common; common feature
to cut corners; to be shoddy
impossible; unlikely; improbable
roundup (criminals, animals, etc.); manhunt; crackdown; swoop; raid
curtain; bunting; act (in play)
reserve; constraint; declining; refraining; forethought; foresight
physical strength; brute strength; arm strength
financial power; financial means; wealth
no; nay; well; er; you're welcome; not at all
betrayer; traitor; turncoat; informer
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
to enclose; to surround; to shelter (e.g. a criminal); to shield; to keep (e.g. a mistress); to store (vegetables, fruit, etc.)
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding a runner on base
unnecessary; not needed; not necessary
clue; lead; key; handhold; hold
to come out; to appear; to turn up; to emerge
simple; easy; uncomplicated; brief; quick; light
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study
common sense; common knowledge; common understanding
I fear that it's likely that; with all due respect
to pass (the night); to spend; to reveal; to divulge; to prove; to verify
ground; crust (earth); foundation (building, etc.); base; constituency; power base
to harden; to freeze; to put together; to collect; to make secure; to stabilize; to fortify
promptly; quickly; without delay; before others; first
influential; prominent; strong; likely; plausible
friend; ally; supporter; taking sides with; supporting; standing by
female; woman; female sex; female lover; girlfriend; mistress
stage; step; level; rank; order; stairs
to turn over (face down); to lay face down; to point downwards (eyes, head, etc.); to cast down (eyes); to lie (one's body) face down; to lie flat (on the ground)
indication; denotation; designation; instructions; directions
going in and out; entering and exiting; visiting regularly; frequenting; income and expenditure; incomings and outgoings; increase and decrease
to keep (something) a secret; to keep hidden (for ever); to continue to conceal
it's best to; it's safest to; there's nothing better than
tool; implement; means; furniture