nothing but (this); no more than (this); none other than
lubricating oil; lubricant; lube; person or thing that makes things run smoothly; facilitator
to become an expert; to be a master (of)
representation; agency; proxy; proxy; agent; representative
of no use; useless; not fit for purpose
bad news; news of a death; death notice
one's self-possession; one's presence of mind
along the road; along the way
manipulation of information; spin
fire of suspicious origin; suspected arson
one's field of expertise; one's strong area
relationship of mutual trust; fiduciary relation
nail; spike; tack; rivet; brad; (pachinko) pin
grain thief; sharpened tube for testing rice in bags; sashimi (sliced raw fish); stabbing; piercing
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
dense; thick; close (relationship); intimate; minute; fine
dizzying (speed, changes, etc.); rapid; drastic; bewildering; hectic; bustling (e.g. world)
precondition; prerequisite
haughty; arrogant; supercilious
to be furious; to seethe with anger; to have one's blood boiling
to look daunted; to look embarrassed; to be disappointed
feeling restless; feeling nervous; fidgety; distracted
to defeat (someone) in an argument; to argue (someone) down; to confute (someone); to refute (someone)
thoughtlessly; rashly; unwisely; halfway; half-done; incomplete
index finger; forefinger; first (occ. second) finger; second toe
to weave together; to interweave; to intermingle
counterintelligence; counterespionage
one's own ground; one's own position; one's own area of the field (soccer, rugby, etc.)
contest of strength; trial of strength
swindler; fraudster; trickster; con man
to bewitch; to confuse; to enchant; to delude
between-season wear; spring and autumn clothing; together; condition; situation; -ish
dying at one's post; being killed in the line of duty
being moved (to tears); being touched (by); (falling) softly (of leaves, petals, etc.); becoming slightly drunk; becoming tipsy
story; tale; legend; plot; storyline
to work out; to think up; to devise; to manage to find (money, time, etc.); to scrape together (funds)
fine performance; excellent performance
although at this late hour; now, although it is too late; afresh; anew; again
enemy camp; enemy line; last 3 rows of the board
conference with much socializing but little real progress; (lit.) the congress dances (but doesn't progress)
snail's pace; slow progress
leadership; initiative; spearhead
blueprint; cyanotype; blueprint (for the future); plan