king; queen; monarch; the Crown (as a focus of authority in the UK, etc.); the throne
bitterness; distress; pain; bitterness and astringency
to crown; to cap; to prefix with; to start with; to begin with
prominent; eminent; leading; foremost; distinguished
to take great pains; to make every effort; to rack one's brains; to be concerned; to worry
capital punishment; death penalty; maximum penalty; ultimate punishment
taking the extenuating circumstances into consideration
patronizing; expecting gratitude in return; acting like one is doing someone a favor; condescending
strong power of the state; iron fist; heavy hand
cleaning up someone else's mess; making up for someone else's mistake; ass-wiping; arse-wiping
(being) unable to look someone in the eye; (being) too ashamed to face (someone)
in line with this; therefore; consequently; so; such being the case; in that regard
exaggerated; extravagant; overdone
pipe; tube; (tobacco) pipe; cigarette holder; go-between; intermediary
interruption; interference; butting in
to remove obstacles in the way of one's objective; to take an indirect approach; (lit.) to fill in the outer moat
acquisition (esp. corporate); buy-out; takeover; bribery; buying off; corruption
slump; crash; heavy fall; sudden decline
to extend; to stretch out; to attend; to participate in; to enrol; to enroll
bent back; indecisive attitude; timidity; lack of nerve
public finance; financial affairs; financial situation
with an interesting history (story); with a shady history; with circumstances that are difficult to explain
the sins of the father shall be visited upon the son
circumference; girth; tour; pilgrimage; circulation (e.g. of blood)
bad character; bad person; villain; baddie
as soon as possible; as quickly as possible; speedily; without delay; ASAP
stock; inventory; having in stock; being in stock
to rebuke; to scold harshly
about to start out; just about to leave or go out; outing; trip
information campaign; awareness program
to think; to use one's head; to exercise one's brains
armed forces; military; (common) soldier; rank-and-file soldier; underling; ordinary employee
(it was) no bother at all; not at all; it was nothing
reconciliation; peace; rapprochement
outline; summary; gist; basic points
let's see what you've got; show me what you've got
to cut off the head of a sleeping person; to assassinate someone while they sleep; to catch someone off their guard by setting traps