laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
about; roughly; generally; on the whole; completely; quite
outward appearance; ostensible; public; official
private; confidential; informal; secret; (within the) family circle; (on the) inside
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
intelligence or information network
technology; engineering; technique; skill; art; craft
attitude; posture; preparedness; readiness
coming and going; keeping in touch; visiting each other; street traffic; highway
on the surface; ostensibly; superficially; apparently
older brother and younger sister
sense of distance (physical or emotional); feeling of distance
early ripening rice; early-ripening fruit (grain, etc.); person who becomes physically or mentally mature at an early age
indicates uncertainty or second hand nature of information quoted
verbal promise; one's word
marriage of convenience; marriage for political reasons
emotional attachment; attitude (expressing emotion); meditative pose (e.g. an actor); posing for effect
amorous feelings; feeling of being in love
tower; steeple; spire; stupa; pagoda; dagoba
to regard (as); to recognize (as); to see as; to pay attention to; to watch
moreover; furthermore; nevertheless; and yet
grip; having all the cards needed to form a scoring combination in one's hand
to turn over; to turn upside down; to knock over; to tip over; to overturn (e.g. a decision); to upset
to part (usu. of people); to part from; to separate (of a couple); to break up; to lose (e.g. one's mother); to be bereaved
to watch over; to watch attentively
to push up; to force up; to pressure one's superiors; to burst out (of emotions, etc.); to fill one's heart
shout of joy; cry of pleasure; jubilant comments
to respond; to answer; to meet (e.g. demands, expectations); to affect; to take a toll; to strike home
thereabouts; vicinity; that area; that situation; those circumstances
declaration; indication; representation; manifestation; demonstration; expression
twice; again; second time
abstention; nonparticipation
to shut out one's opponents; to stop the other side from scoring
I'm told; is what I heard; is how it is, apparently; is what they said
threat; menace; coercion; terrorism
greed; craving; desire; appetite; hunger; avarice
lively; vigorous; energetic; full of (energy, appetite, curiosity, etc.); brimming with
paying one's own expenses; going into business for oneself; working independently; person who earns their own living
effect; efficacy; validity; potency
action of making something; -ification
frequency (of occurrence)
one's impression of a product after trying it out; feel of a product (during use); usability; signs of use (of a product); wear and tear