spine; line of the backbone; seam down the back (of clothing)
to be surprising; to be shocking; to be jaw-dropping
to build up; to establish (one's reputation)
to practice magic; to practise magic
fabrication; forgery; falsehood; hoax
gossip; government OSI procurement; GOSIP
article; news story; report; account
it's not like; it isn't as if
performing a part in one's own play; playing a musical piece that one has written; doing everything by oneself (from preparation to execution); put-up job; charade; sock-puppeting (i.e. pretending to be more than one person on the Internet)
to rank next to; to come after
extent to which (something) is true or false; whether or not (something) is true
to make clear; to clarify; to disclose; to make public
fall; decline; lowering; deterioration; degradation
like father, like son; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree; (lit.) the child of a frog is a frog
whichever one chooses; either way
leadership competition; power struggle
to gain fame; to make one's name
wartime fire; war; wartime destruction; horrors of war
wandering people; nomadic tribe
piece of cake; a walk in the park
to take offense; to take offence; to get angry; to lose one's temper
papier-mâché tiger (toy with a loose, wobbly head); paper tiger; someone (or something) who is all bark and no bite; man of straw
leader of the pack (of a group of kids); neighborhood bully (neighbourhood)
to tease; to irritate; to tantalize; to keep (someone) in suspense
first meeting; first interview with
to pinch; to hold (between one's fingers); to pick up and eat; to snack on; to pick out (the main point); to summarize
graceful; ladylike; modest; gentle; polite; quiet
gesture; movement; action; acting; performance
eldest daughter; first-born daughter
loading (on board); equipping; equipped (with); built-in
wood; lumber; (raw) material; stuff; talent; ability
origin; source; history; originally; from the start; by nature