crossing swords; competing against; contending with; fighting against
to strike against; to collide with; to encounter; to meet; to clash
something to think about; one's thoughts; concern; thinking about something; being absorbed in one's thoughts
strangeness; abnormality; disorder
because ...; for ...; the reason being ...; as for ...; when it comes to ...; regarding ...
complete lie; outright lie
achievement; meritorious deed; distinguished service; contribution
to curry favour (with); to play up (to); to cozy up (to); to butter up
ulterior motive; plot; scheme; complicated circumstances; intricacies
slipping out (a chuckle, giggle); unintentionally (letting out a quiet laugh)
glamorous; charming; beguiling; bewitching; beautiful; fascinatingly elegant
to laugh; to smile; to sneer; to ridicule; to be dumbfounded; to be flabbergasted
very; extremely; terrible; horrid; remarkable; extraordinary
clear layer of fluid (at the top of a mixture); supernatant liquid; supernate
to pile up; to accumulate
setback; failure (e.g. plans, business); frustration; discouragement
talented person; clever person
to play (games, sports); to enjoy oneself; to mess about (with alcohol, gambling, philandery, etc.); to be idle; to do nothing; to meet up (with friends); to hang out
to associate with; to keep company with; to go out with; to go along with; to follow someone's lead; to accompany someone
to lead someone around by the nose
to spread; to extend; to unfold; to open; to scatter about; to spread around
to accomplish; to achieve; to carry out; to do ... completely; to do ... entirely
exactly as stated; verbatim
to anticipate; to foresee
roundabout (e.g. expression); indirect (reference, criticism, etc.); oblique
too much; excessively; too
(one) matter; (one) item; (one) case
given that ... it is only natural that ...; ... being the case, it is unavoidable that ...; (precisely) because ...; contrary to expectations ...
to stop; to turn off; to park; to prevent; to suppress (a cough); to stop (someone from doing something); to dissuade
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
sounding; probing; probe; stylet; spy
perhaps; maybe; perchance; by some chance; by any chance
fingers; fingertips; underling; stooge; tool
watch-keeping; guard; lookout
as a matter of fact; by the way; to tell you the truth; to be honest; frankly
dangerous; in danger; facing imminent danger; precarious (situation); perilous (state, balance, etc.); in doubt
accidental; incidental; occasional; casual
half-moon; half a month; semicircle
even though; despite; when
to make a mistake (in); to commit an error; to be wrong; to be incorrect; to mislead; to misguide