sounding each other out; probing each other
bargaining; haggling; tactics; strategy; (tactical) advance or retreat of troops
to probe; to search; to sound out; to investigate
turns and twists; ups and downs; meandering; complications; vicissitudes
to go to the bottom of an affair; to inquire into the origin
heavy load; heavy luggage; heavy freight; heavy burden; heavy responsibility; encumbrance
to measure; to weigh; to survey; to conjecture; to infer; to surmise
point of view; viewpoint; standpoint; perspective; angle
to rest one's chin in one's hands
decisively; decidedly; boldly; precisely; exactly
to ask a question; to ask questions
even if; even though; although one might say; although called
charm; fascination; glamour; glamor; attraction; appeal
to draw (attention, sympathy, etc.); to attract (e.g. interest)
to injure; to damage; to kill; to hinder; to obstruct
ordinary person; average person; mediocre person
main topic; main subject; main issue; this subject
shh!; shush!; hush!; shoo!; scram!
dullard (gen. from not picking up on other people's feelings)
goal; target; aim; mark; sign; landmark
to complete decisively; to do to completion
not exceeding ...; not more than ...; below (a standard, level, etc.); under; the following; the below-mentioned
to give an answer; to find an answer to a question; to work out a solution
in spite of; despite; although; regardless of; irrespective of
palpitation (of the heart); pounding; throbbing; thumping
to keep one's temper; to maintain one's composure; to remain calm; to keep presence of mind; to preserve one's equilibrium
definite; certain; decided; fixed; settled
hard to say; inexpressible; hesitant to say; embarrassing; delicate
clearly; distinctly; evidently; definitely
to declare; to speak out; to warn; to spit out (words)
even if; even though; wow
(taking an) objective point of view; viewing objectively
comfort; ease; easy; simple; (economically) comfortable; raku pottery
to give up as hopeless; to wash one's hands (of someone or something)
sad; miserable; unhappy; sad; lamentable; deplorable
to (keep in) mind; to give heed to; to pay attention to
to need; to call for; to require
bond (between people); (emotional) ties; bonds; tether; fetters
excellent answer; clever answer
more than a friend (implies a degree of intimacy)