before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
pitch-black; jet-black; strongly tanned; deeply sunburnt; sooty; black with dirt
nothing; naught; nought; un-; non-
professor; teaching; instruction
unskilled; clumsy; lousy; poor; awkward; shitty
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
system; lineage; ancestry; group (e.g. of colors) (colours); family (e.g. of languages); close (evolutionary) relationship
hammer; mallet; sledgehammer; gavel
handle; grip; holder; person who holds
to slide; to glide; to slip; to skid; to be slippery; to fail (an examination); to lose (a position)
long handle; long-handled spear; long shaft
martial arts; military arts; wushu (Chinese martial art)
flow (of a fluid or gas); stream; flow (of people, things); passage (of time); course (of events); (step-by-step) procedure; group of people who remain together after the end of an event
to run along; to run beside; to follow (a policy, plan, etc.); to act in accordance with; to meet (wishes, expectations, etc.); to satisfy
awkward; clumsy; stiff; crude; unrefined; constrained
to follow with one's gaze; to follow with the eyes
to leap back; to jump back
eyeball; special feature; centerpiece; special program; loss leader; sunny-side up fried egg
white silk; prime; principle
wrapped package; bale; wicker trunk; wicker luggage
strong arm; stout arm; ability to carry out a difficult job; capable person
decoration; ornament; trimmings
with a scraping sound; with a scratching sound; with a crunching sound (while eating)
direct; immediate; personal; firsthand
to wield; to brandish; to display (one's knowledge); to show off; to abuse (one's power); to manipulate someone
fixed idea; idée fixe; stereotype; prejudice
to release; to let go; to free; to add (pieces of eggplant, potato, etc.) to water, broth, etc.
point; gist; essentials; knack; trick; the ropes
hidden ball trick; ace up one's sleeve; secret weapon
early; a little earlier than usual; a little faster than usual; slightly quicker
splendid; praiseworthy; admirable; well done!; bravo!
really; truly; indeed; very; extremely; terribly
absorption; giving undivided attention; devoting oneself (to)
sometime; someday; one day; some time or other; the other day; in due course
from the beginning; from the first; of course; not to mention ...; not only ... but also ...
dangerous; risky; in danger; in jeopardy; uncertain; unreliable
calm; composed; cool; quiet
to hold up over one's head; to hold aloft; to hold over something; to hold (one's hands) out (e.g. towards a fire); to hold up to shade one's eyes, face, etc.
to stagger; to stumble; to waver; to be in two minds; to have an affair (with); to fall (for someone)