laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
smooth; undisturbed; uninterrupted; harmonious
with a splash; with a plop
crisp (not moist or juicy); crunchy; crunching sound (of walking on snow, frost, sand, etc.); doing skillfully and efficiently; doing quickly; (arch.) sound of pouring liquid
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
someone working behind-the-scenes; scene shifter; lady consort (to a high personage)
dense; thick; close (relationship); intimate; minute; fine
floral decoration; floral ornament
established practice; custom
obvious; (as) clear as day; plain to see
what did you just say (to me)?; what's that?
woman's heart; female instincts or psychology
to remain unsold; to be left on the shelf
wrong impression; subjective impression; assumption; prejudice
to be suspicious of (someone's motives); to suspect (that)
stirring; slight movement
to be ...-ing; to have been ...-ing
party (of people); set (of people); clan; family; fellow
unceasing; never-ending; endless
(wanting something so badly that) one can almost taste it; (lit.) a hand reaches out from one's throat
to be evident; to be obvious; to understand completely
conclusive evidence; positive proof; definite proof; confirmation
to read too much into things; to get wrong ideas by letting one's imagination run wild; to have a groundless suspicion
like it or not; like or not like
knothole; peep-hole; (fig.) bad eyes; tunnel vision
cause (grounds) for concern (anxiety); reason for uneasiness
person who prefers sweet things to alcoholic drinks; person with a sweet tooth
autumn scenery; fall scenery
tall and thin; long and thin; lanky; spindly; gangly
way one walks; one's walk
to mistake (A for B); to misread
to curse; to put a curse on; to detest intensely
to hold fast; to protect to the end
rough sketch; floor plan; blueprint
to indicate; to show; to point to
rough (estimate, outline, etc.); broad; general; generous; openhanded
to look toward; to have one's eyes drawn towards something