from long ago; from old times; from time immemorial
diversionary tactics (maneuvering); disguise; hide by camouflage
to all appearances; no matter how you look at it
hearsay; rumor; rumour; report
walking sideways; staggering; striding; being rampant; being widespread; being prevalent
nonexistent; unreal; imaginary; spurious
to tell X from Y; to distinguish; to know (one thing) from (another)
to regard (as); to recognize (as); to see as; to pay attention to; to watch
core; heart (of the matter); point; crux; kernel
unpleasant; disgusting; loathsome; shameful; scandalous
camouflage; disguise; pretense; feigning; masquerade
orderly; regular; systematic; well-organized; well-organised; trim
to go to; to proceed to; to leave for
to deepen; to heighten; to intensify
bone; frame; outline; core; backbone; spirit
my goodness!; oh my!; oh dear!
10^8; 100,000,000; hundred million
zero; 0; nought; nothing; zilch
collision; crash; running into; conflict; quarrel; clashing
established theory; accepted opinion; accepted explanation
in the first place; to begin with; after all; anyway; beginning; start
to draw (conclusion); to deduce; to derive
astonished; stunned; startled out of one's wits; thunderstruck; open-eyed astonishment
suddenly; abruptly; unexpectedly
unbelievable; incredible; implausible
amateur; layman; respectable woman (i.e. not a prostitute, hostess, geisha); (arch.) unlicensed prostitute
to place persons opposite; to come face to face with; to compare (with); to check (against); to match
you bastard!; you son of a bitch!
decoy (for hunting); stool; lure; decoy; stool pigeon
shout of abuse; jeers; boos
to act timid (about doing); to show diffidence; to feel ashamed; to feel guilty
manipulation of information; spin
to pass; to elapse; to pass through; to go through; to experience; to go through