a mere ...; only a ...; insignificant
staff member; station employee; official
to take the form of (esp. in ref. to a spirit, fox, raccoon dog, etc.); to assume the shape of; to disguise oneself (as); to change (into); to transform; to change radically (for the better)
materials; ingredients; material (for a novel, experiment, etc.); subject matter; grounds (for a decision, judgement, etc.); basis
to be noisy; to be astir; to be abuzz; to be in commotion; to be aflutter; to be unsettled
victory; triumph; win; conquest; success
best; supreme; wonderful; highest; maximum; most
switch; switch; points; switch (from one thing to another); change
(attacking and) sinking (a ship); sending (a ship) to the bottom; crushing defeat; utter failure; complete exhaustion; collapsing (onto a bed, desk, etc.)
capture (esp. of a foreign vessel); seizure
cheerful; jovial; weather; season; spirit of yang
valid; proper; right; appropriate; reasonable
unclear; obscure; unknown; unidentified; ignorance; lack of wisdom
in some way or other; one way or another; somehow; only just; barely
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
frank; direct; plain; straightforward; point-blank; concise
clearly; plainly; distinctly; to be clear; to be definite; to be certain
to watch to the end; to ascertain; to determine; to know thoroughly; to obtain a deep understanding of
to bury; to embed; to implant
time limit; time restriction
to cling to; to hold on to; to grapple; to set about doing; to begin; to possess (someone; of an evil spirit, idea, etc.)
how long; how far; how much
catch; catching; catch; shop tout; puller-in; catching (in swimming and boating); catching the water
on purpose; deliberately; intentionally
to be blurred (due to motion; of a photo, video, etc.); to be shaken (of a camera); to waver (in one's beliefs, policy, etc.); to shift (position); to be slightly off
reply (e.g. email, fax, letter); answer
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
conclusion; resolution; gathering and bundling; convergence; focusing (of light); convergence
area (measurement); square measure; size (of land); floor space
How did you like ...?; How about ...?; What's going on?; How's it going?
(random) guess; guesswork; shot in the dark; conjecture
-ish; -like; resembling; appearing to be; seeming to be
capture; seizure; prehension; apprehension; understanding; grasp
fixed phrase; canned phrase; standard wording; template; boilerplate
urgent; pressing; immediate; urgently; promptly; at once
to be sensible; to be smart; to be tasteful; to be thoughtful; to be tactful; to be sensitive
to draw (conclusion); to deduce; to derive
firing (esp. a rocket or missile); launching; shooting; ejaculation
button (clothing); push-button; button