at this stage; at this point; now (contrasting with the past)
disliked; hated; tendency; smack (of); distinction; discrimination
naturally; in due course; by itself; of its own accord
very; extremely; exceedingly; top; highest; best
black curtain; wirepuller; mastermind; backroom manipulator
attack under the cover of darkness; surprise attack; sneak attack
to rise to the surface; to come to the front; to emerge (e.g. from obscurity); to stand out (e.g. against a dark background)
anyhow; anyway; somehow or other; apart from ...; setting ... aside
to play cool; to act cool
to cut into (a conversation); to interject
to advance on; to close in; to march on; to descend on (the enemy); to move towards; to surge forward (crowd, wave of nostalgia, wave, etc.)
single; solo; solitary; just one; only one
pleasant; agreeable; comfortable
to drag into; to pull into; to lure inside; to win over; to entice into
wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting)
to cut one's way through; to tide over; to struggle through; to get over
inner thoughts; real intention; at heart; deep down; inner center (centre)
lack of ability; inadequacy; (being) out of one's depth
obvious; clear; plain; evident; apparent; explicit
to slip through; to slip past; to evade
to wait for an opportunity
(in) the middle of; (in) the midst of; (in) the course of; (at) the height of
abandoned building; derelict building
the reverse; other side; lining
growth; development; stretching (one's body, e.g. when waking up); (ability to) spread (of paint, cream, etc.); elongation; extension
equally (talented, etc.); evenly; neck and neck; nip and tuck
the place for; the time for; the level of
system; lineage; corollary; system (range of strata that correspond to a particular time period); (taxonomical) series
to be contrary; to run counter (to); to conflict (with); to disagree (with)
great man; hero; master mind
heat haze; shimmer of hot air
amplification (elec.); magnification; amplification; making larger
striking; remarkable; considerable
exhaustion; consumption; using up; dissipation; waste
foul play (sport); breaking the rules; infringement; irregularity
petty; small-minded; stingy; poor (performance, etc.); bad; unskilled
hailing each other; acting in concert; responding (to); agreement; concord