operation; management; handling; manipulating (to one's benefit); manipulation; influencing
capable person; talented person; person with supernatural powers (in fiction); competent person; person with legal capacity
to refuse; to decline; to deny
beyond expectation; contrary to expectations; unexpectedly
no matter what; whatever happens; under any circumstances; never
(fully) exposed; bare; uncovered; in full view; undisguised; broad (accent)
racial or national characteristics
being amazed; being horrified; being taken aback
one (esp. of two); the other; on the one hand; on the other hand; whereas; although
gentle; mild; meek; tender
expression; look; countenance; face
softly; mildly; gently; politely
exchange (of words, views, punches, cups, etc.); give-and-take; reply; answer; response
glaring at each other; confrontation; standoff; face-off
to hold back (e.g. emotions); to rein in (e.g. a horse, unruly people); to get the better of; to control; to command
to spare; to grudge; to regret; to lament; to be reluctant (to do); to be unwilling
dry eye syndrome; DES; keratoconjunctivitis sicca; keratitis sicca
to fall into (e.g. a hole); to fall into (chaos, depression, dilemma, illness, etc.); to fall into (a trap, etc.); to fall; to surrender
surrender; submission; capitulation; being defeated (e.g. by a problem); giving up; giving in
admiration; being impressed (by)
fair; fair ball; fair (event)
imprudence; oversight; omission; mistake
superiority; predominance
to let go of; to release; to part with (e.g. a possession); to relinquish; to send away (e.g. one's child); to let go
to jump back; to leap back; to jump aside; to jump out of the way
to step aside; to move (out of the way); to make way; to resign; to retire; to quit
to get poised again for charging; to toe the mark again; to start from scratch; to get a fresh start (on)
meeting face-to-face; seeing in person; facing (each other); opposing (traffic, etc.); confronting
although I say; although one might say; although called
to make a slip of the tongue; to let something slip
nice-looking; seemingly fine; nice-sounding; polite-sounding; plausible (e.g. excuse); glib
patron (of the arts, an artist, etc.); patroness; sugar daddy; man who provides for a woman (e.g. a geisha); patron; master
supporter; sponsor; patron; backer
representation; representative; exemplification; typification; leader; switchboard number
strange; unfamiliar; mysterious; suspicious
hard to say; inexpressible; hesitant to say; embarrassing; delicate
royal capital; imperial capital
(idle) curiosity; fancifulness; eccentricity; person with unusual tastes; eccentric; oddball
unfavourably; unfavorably; disparagingly; insultingly; ill
unfathomable; inestimable; immeasurable