to form a circle; to stand in a circle
Zhou dynasty (China, approx. 1046-256 BCE); Chou dynasty; perimeter; counter for laps or circuits
alert status; emergency alert
stagnation; deposit; sediment; faltering; hesitation; pause
being put to shame; being outshone; being eclipsed; feeling embarrassed
no wonder; little wonder; after all; as expected; which isn't surprising
famous; noted; renowned; celebrated; well-known
shutting oneself in (one's room, etc.); barricading oneself in (a fort, etc.) while being besieged; holing up (in a building)
(police) detective; criminal matter
charge; duty; person in charge; connection; linking
offender; criminal; culprit
custom; made or built to order; customs (government agency)
plate (often as in "tectonic plate")
to harvest; to reap; to take in; to gather in; to adopt (e.g. idea); to accept (e.g. advice)
phone trace; detecting the source of a telephone call
civilian clothes; plain clothes; mufti; plainclothes police officer
investigator (usu. of criminal cases)
walking; pace; step; course (of history, one's life, etc.); history; pitch (of a screw, etc.)
organs of the state; machinery of the state
unable to compete with; not able to make a dent in (e.g. a problem); not able to get a solid hit in (e.g. in a fight); hard to chew
to walk; to move forward; to make progress
trace; vestige; mark; sign; evidence
excretion; discharge; excrement
flagrante delicto; caught red-handed
shaking (something) out; starting point; beginning; drawing (e.g. of a bill); issue; throw (of dice); infusion (remedy)
due form; official; formality
conclusion; execution (of a contract); entering (into treaty); fastening (as in a joint)
(coming to an) agreement; consent; mutual understanding; accord; consensus
prompt conclusion; early conclusion
to be or remain always on hand
to finish reading; to read through
loss; damage; harm; disadvantage; handicap; drawback
I don't know about ... but; it may be possible for ... but
(theatrical) fighting scene
feeling of tension; air of tension; tension; nervousness
depending on the situation; depending on circumstances