laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
to be of benefit; to be useful; to be good for you
to affect adversely; to have a negative influence (on)
high-ranking officials; ministers; ladies and gentlemen; everyone
taking something into consideration; making allowances; discounting
leading aristocrat; great house; grand seigneur; boyar
put; place; leave; do (in preparation)
happy; auspicious; propitious; naive
contacting; getting in touch; communication; call; message
to get carried away; to become over-excited; to push one's luck; to push a good thing too far
great man; hero; master mind
the matter you have been talking about
centripetal force; unifying force; cohesive power
power balance; balance of power
to get off; to abandon (a ship or vehicle)
still; as yet; as it has been
skill; dexterity; master hand
to settle (a problem); to put an end to (a dispute); to be disposed of; to be settled; to come to an end
jingling; jangling; clinking; lasciviously; coquettishly
influential; powerful; popular; prosperous; doing well
fly in the ointment; small flaw in otherwise perfect object; only trouble; only fault
secret; clandestine; covert; spy (for a daimyo, shogun, etc.); secret agent
having difficulty falling asleep; unable to get to sleep
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
what is to be done?; what should (I) do?; what (am I) to do?
going up and down; ascent and descent; climb and descent
drop of water; vessel for replenishing inkstone water
to afflict; to torment; to harass; to molest
to fold (clothes, umbrella); to close (a shop, business); to vacate
when it comes to ...; concerning; where ... are concerned
to chip; to be chipped; to be missing (from a set, team, etc.); to be absent; to be lacking (in); to be short (of)
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
unfavourable comparison; unfavorable comparison