feigned ignorance; pretending not to know
to take for granted; to assume; to pretend (to be); to pose (as); to go through with (what one decided to do); to persist in doing
state; condition; the way things should be; ideal state; truth
sooner or later; in time; eventually
to crowd out; to push out; to start together; to set out en masse; to highlight; to draw attention to
isolated; standing alone; falling in drops (e.g. rain); saying a single word; muttering just a few words
to fight against; to oppose; to face
lesson; precept; teachings; moral
to complete decisively; to do to completion
to be no match for; to not hold a candle to
to get to the heart (of the matter); to come to the main point
elucidation; explication; explaining; unravelling; clarification; understanding
to hit the mark; to hit the nail on the head
upper stream; upper course; upstream; upper classes
to resume breathing; to come around; to come back to life
uncalled-for remark; impertinent remark
being excluded; being ignored; being kept in the dark (about); being kept out of the loop; (lit.) outside the mosquito net
to guess; to sense; to presume; to sympathize with; to sympathise with
not a word to anyone; keep it secret; mum's the word
human nature; human heart; public feeling; people's sentiments; consciousness; awareness
to spread (e.g. a rumor); to circulate; to disseminate
outside (the room, building); outdoors
reporter; speaker; informer; presenter; rapporteur
to change completely; to change suddenly
beacon; skyrocket; signal fire; starting shot; starting signal
to stiffen; to become stiff; to harden
person standing watch; guard duty
edict; ordinance; proclamation
high alert; a state of high alert; on alert
urban areas; the streets; town; city
noisy; confused; uproarious
very small fraction (of); very small proportion; very small part; tiny bit
whether one likes it or not; inevitably; unavoidably; compulsorily; by force
everyday; daily; ordinary; usual; routine; regular
a certain someone; Mr So-and-so
intrusion; bursting into; barging into; breaking into; forcing one's way into