fool; idiot; dotage; senility; touched in the head (from); out of it (from)
not understanding; not knowing
Sleeping Beauty (fairy tale)
words can lead to disaster; the tongue is the root of calamities; the more you open your mouth the more likely you are to put your foot in it
circumstances; sequence of events; how things got this way; details; particulars
obstruction; prevention; hindrance; check; blocking; stopping
to keep step (with); to keep pace (with); to move in lockstep; to align (with another's thoughts or actions); to get on the same page
internal disunity; internal division; internal rift
occupation; calling; livelihood
manipulation of public opinion
estrangement; alienation; sowing discord; driving a wedge
to play a central role; to take a leading part
actual and hidden; inside out (e.g. socks); face down (e.g. cards)
headship of a family; family property
bogging down; dragging on; turning into a quagmire; becoming mired in a mess
equally (well); as ... as; no less ... than ...; evenly matched; well-matched
boning (fish or meat); deboning; watering down (a plan, bill, etc.); dilution; taking the backbone out of; weakening
manager; controller; chief treasurer; boss (of a gambling den)
artifice; wiles; trickery; art of a courtesan (esp. for seducing or deceiving customers); coquetry
the reverse (side); back (side); other side; hidden side; behind the scenes
gentle; peaceable; amicable; without fuss; simply
lighting up; illumination; floodlighting
aspect; phase; condition; modality
under the staircase; understairs
to stand up straight; to stick up (e.g. of hair); to stand up abruptly; to jump to one's feet; to stand (doing nothing); to stand around
black suit; mourning clothes; black-suited staff member (e.g. in restaurant, sex establishment, etc.)
to pick out (with the fingers); to pull out; to throw out (e.g. of a bar); to drag out; to chuck out
spy; secret agent; shill; stealth advertiser
shooting from the hip; starting something without sufficient preparation; acting on a vague estimate (of the situation)
reservation; appointment; contract; subscription; programming (e.g. a device); setting (e.g. a timer)
bare legs; bare feet; stockingless legs
sweetly smiling; like the smiling of a beauty; gracious
group; party; team; organization; organisation; association
time after time; countless times; many a time; dozens of times
ordinary person; average person; man in the street; everyman; (a) nobody