question; inquiry; enquiry
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
card game (played with a French-suited deck)
local rule; house rule; ground rule
especially; particularly; above all; portioning out (servings of food)
to concern; to be related
important; serious; valuable; precious; serious matter; major incident
general; popular; common; typical
not necessarily so; is not always true; there is no guarantee that ...; there is no telling
I see; that's right; indeed
rare; uncommon; new; novel; fine; nice
to garnish; to accompany (as a card does a gift); to add to as support; to prop up; to accompany (as an aid, guide, translator, etc.); (arch.) to mimic
usually; under usual circumstances
to pull; to tug; to draw (attention, sympathy, etc.); to attract (e.g. interest); to draw back (e.g. one's hand); to draw in (one's chin, stomach, etc.); to draw (a card, mahjong tile, etc.)
way of using (something); way to use; how to use; way of handling (employees, subordinates, etc.); way of treating; treatment
coincidence; chance; by chance; unexpectedly; contingency
probability; likelihood; chances
low (rank, degree, value, content, quality, etc.); low (position); close to the ground; short (height); deep (voice); in a low key
altitude; height; elevation; high-degree; high-grade; advanced
that is to say; so that means
good; excellent; sufficient; enough; profitable (deal, business offer, etc.); beneficial
generally; on the whole; general; rough; outline; main points
towards (a destination); for the purpose of; with the goal of; targeting (a group, a demographic)
before one's very eyes; under one's nose; imminence; close at hand
departure; departing from ...; sent from ...; (a letter, etc.) dated ...; counter for engines (on an aircraft); counter for gunshots, bursts of gas, etc.
even if not; even without
accomplishment; execution
chic; smart; understanding; considerate; familiar with worldly pleasures (esp. sexual relations, geisha districts and red-light districts)
consideration; concern; fear; worry; solicitude
to mix; to stir; to blend
beginning; outset; first; onset
that is to say; that is; in short; in brief; clogging; obstruction; shrinkage
important; significant; precious; valuable; careful
memory; ability to remember
lying down; down!; lie down!
every conceivable; every single; every possible; all kinds of
weapon; arms; ordnance; weapon (something used to gain an advantage); asset
first of all; to begin with; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting); probe; probing move
first of all; at once; for now; for the time being; anyway; at least
preliminary test or trial; tryout; workout; warm-up