conspirators; faction; cabal; clique
half the number; half (of an amount); haploid (organism, cell, etc.); haplont
important matter; necessary thing; requirement
trade; business; occupation; profession; job
(in the) confusion (of the moment)
strategic arrangement of go stones at the beginning of a game; opening moves; preparations; preparatory steps; arrangements
the real criminal; true culprit
influential person; powerful person; big wheel; big gun; power behind the throne
to enlist as a supporter; to win over to one's side; to gain as one's ally
scoundrel; rascal; villain
selfish; egoistic; self-serving; self-interested
atonement (for one's sins); expiation; making amends; making up for (a misdeed)
retiring from military service
intonation; accent; modulation; inflection
sense of justice; feeling of righteousness; moral sense
brilliance; luster; lustre; vividness; life
position in a game; state of the game; situation; stage; phase
to distance oneself (from); to keep (something or someone) at a distance; to maintain a distance (from)
to envision how things will turn out (usu. unfortunate); to have foresight; to be able to see the future
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
searching for the culprit; trying to find out who did something
desperation; despair; self-abandonment
control (of a machine, device, etc.); control (over an opponent, one's emotions, etc.); governing; management
at the critical moment; when the time comes; when it's most important; when necessary; in an emergency; when push comes to shove
to wrap up (in); to roll up (in); to tuck (up)
affection; love; fondness; tenderness
accident (caused by negligence); error; blunder; fault; defect
insincerity; dishonesty; untruthfulness; bad faith
stronghold (esp. of an enemy or opponent); inner citadel; bastion
general situation; whole situation; larger picture; overall situation of a game
to affect; to impact; to influence
dual structure; double structure
to lose one's senses; to go mad; to go off the rails; to fool around; to mess around; to lark about
motive power; driving force
tightrope walking; high-wire act; funambulism; treading a tightrope; walking on thin ice; pulling a risky balancing act
far away; far off; nowhere near; far cry
large river; epic (of a novel, drama, etc.); long-form; large-scale
to rub; to crumple; to massage; to argue; to have a heated discussion; to train; to coach
person living with a family; lodger; housemate; flatmate; roommate
moisture; damp; richness; warmth; financial leeway; gains
timidity; cowardice; prudence; pedantry
to paint a picture; to draw a picture