premodern; old-fashioned; outmoded; antiquated
still more; even more; all the more; still less; even less
dangerous; unsettled; troubled; disturbed; insecure
unpleasant; awkward; embarrassing; uneasy
topic; subject; much talked about; topical; in the news
locked-room murder (e.g. in murder mystery fiction)
home area; home town; local
member of an assembly; member of the Diet; member of parliament; member of Congress
to often be the case; to occur frequently; to be common; to be popular
head; hair (on one's head); mind; brains; leader; chief; top
to hit a nerve; to go for the throat; to touch a sore spot
at once; immediately; instantly; in an instant; quickly; suddenly
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
to deceive; to cheat; to falsify; to misrepresent; to evade (a question, taxes, etc.); to dodge
I'm sorry; my apologies; may I come in?; permission; leave; dismissal
to become familiar with; to get used to; to become accustomed to; to come to fit; to go (well) with; to suit
vague; ambiguous; shady; disreputable; fuzzy
consideration; concern; fear; worry; solicitude
to be sufficient; to be enough; to be worth doing; to be worthy of; to do (the job); to serve
childish; childlike; immature; infantile; puerile
age-appropriate (esp. of clothing, hairstyles)
the other day; previously; last time; last (Sunday, summer, etc.); previous (e.g. mayor, chapter)
trick; plot device; mystery-fiction trope
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
to make out to be; to set someone up (as); to prepare (e.g. someone for a role); to make (e.g. "a man out of him"); to frame
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; nuisance; bore; burden
losing one's position; losing one's standing; downfall; fall (from power); being overthrown
hindrance; obstacle; to visit (someone's home); demon who hinders Buddhist training; demon who obstructs sentient beings from maintaining moral behaviour
extremely; in the extreme; knows no bounds (e.g. rudeness); boundless (e.g. universe, ocean); limitless
succession struggle; succession race
to erase; to rub out; to turn off (a light, TV, heater, etc.); to switch off; to extinguish (a fire, candle, etc.); to put out; to remove (a smell, pain, etc.)
turning round; going around; turning about; surrounding; encircling
one round; one circuit; one revolution; one lap; one turn
observation; survey; watching
as a matter of fact; by the way; to tell you the truth; to be honest; frankly; actually
this (very thing); this precisely