secret manoeuvres (maneuvers); operating behind the scenes
to plan; to form a plan; to scheme; to envision; to intend to do
still; even now; to this day
championship game; finals (of a tournament); deciding round
to prowl after; to keep watch on
to snatch away; to dispossess; to steal
evil design; crafty plan; plot
snare; trap (for catching wild game, etc.); trap (i.e. ruse, subterfuge, etc.)
to insert; to put in (such that there is a snug fit); to have sex; to fuck; to pigeonhole (into a particular category); to place a ring-shaped object around something (esp. one that restricts freedom, such as handcuffs)
opposite side; bottom; rear; back; lining; inside; in the shadows
to pull (the puppet) strings; to direct things from behind the scenes; to stretch out (and keep going); to linger on
joint; knuckle; tune; melody; knot (in wood); node in a bamboo stem
when it comes to ...; where ... is concerned; if it's the case that ...; if it turns out that ...; if it's true that ...
to change; to be transformed; to move to; to be different; to be uncommon
company; lot; bunch; troupe; company (of musicians)
not necessarily; not entirely; not altogether
to declare; to assert; to state definitively; to finish saying; to say it all; to finish one's sentence
highest peak; highest mountain; greatest authority; most prominent person; pinnacle (e.g. of art)
healing; soothing; therapy; comfort; solace
dreadful; terrible; horrible; fearsome; formidable; awesome
user; consumer; master (e.g. of swordsmanship); prodigal; spendthrift
prize winner; pennant winner; victor
female; woman; female sex; female lover; girlfriend; mistress
to be defeated; to be beaten; to be unsuccessful; to lose
to aim at (with a weapon, etc.); to be after (something or someone); to have an eye on; to aim for; to set up as a goal
serious wound; serious injury
to impose; to visit upon; to inflict
tension; mental strain; nervousness
statement; remark; observation; utterance; speech; proposal
Holy City (e.g. Jerusalem, Mecca)
to depart (on a plane, train, etc.)
as expected; sure enough; after all (is said and done); in the end; too; also
about; concerning; related to; -ish
murmur; mutter; murmuring; tweet; Twitter post
all members; all hands; everyone; everybody; whole crew
silence; being silent; quiet; reticence; inaction
to fall into someone's hands; to pass into another's possession
surely; undoubtedly; sternly; severely; having no slack; rigid
cannot be undone; can't be recovered from
each (person); everyone; individual; respective