unnatural; artificial; affected; strained
to have a catch; to have an ulterior motive; to be more (to something)
easy; simple; informal; offhand; cheap
while it may be true that; just because; nevertheless; not necessarily
to commit (e.g. crime); to perpetrate; to break (e.g. rule); to violate; to rape; to violate
to ask; to enquire; to query
equality; equal; same rights; same rank; equivalence
having no idea what will happen; God only knows; there is no knowing; you never can tell
preparatory phase; preparatory period
to pass; to elapse; to pass through; to go through; to experience; to go through
bogging down; dragging on; turning into a quagmire; becoming mired in a mess
real condition; actual circumstances; actual state of affairs
no matter for; without regard to; whatever the ...
external; foreign (e.g. relations); public (e.g. image)
peace talks; peace negotiations
agreement; rules; code; protocol; convention; bylaw
reputation; respectability
way; method; means; resource; course
villain; baddie; the villain's part
easily; readily; quickly; lightly (seasoned food, applied make-up, etc.); plainly; simply
shape; form; appearance; state; situation; suitable
harvest; crop; ingathering; fruits (of one's labors); gain; result
apiece; each; at a time; piecemeal
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
to disdain; to look down on; to make light of; to hold in contempt; to scorn; to despise
in perfect form; going swimmingly
off the mark; off base; misdirected; irrelevant
swallowing without chewing; swallowing (e.g. a story); accepting without questioning
competition; contest; rivalry; competition (between organisms or species)
to add (to); to add on; to append
to advance; to move forward; to carry forward (plans, work, etc.); to proceed with; to raise; to elevate
right to choose; a say; option
indispensable; essential; requisite; required; compulsory; necessary
system; organization; organisation; imperial command; laws; regulation
to be worried; to be troubled
careful; cautious; prudent; discreet; deliberate
oh my god!; oh my gosh!; you got me!; wow!
cold; frigid; bracing; dignified
martial arts; military arts; Bushido
appraisal; estimation; evaluation; setting prices