state of lethargy; absolute bewilderment; daze; mental numbness
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
effective control (over territory); working control
revival (e.g. musical); come-back; restoration; rebirth; resurrection
impressiveness; impact; force; intensity; appeal; strength
to shrink back; to wince; to flinch; to recoil
to live (of humans); to reside; to inhabit; to dwell; to abide
end; verge; extremity; miss; failure; blank (e.g. lottery ticket)
to be broken; to break; to fall through; to come to nothing
wherein; therein; thereinto
cold (e.g. weather); uninteresting (esp. joke); lame; dull
to endure; to keep out (e.g. rain); to pull through; to get over; to surpass; to outdo
then; and then; and; if so; because then; if that's the case
horse; horse racing; promoted bishop
chasm; interstice; crevice; vulva; slit; cunt
crevice; crack; spare moment; interval; chink (in one's armor, armour); unpreparedness
to peek (through a keyhole, gap, etc.); to look down into (a ravine, etc.); to peek into (a shop, bookstore, etc.); to sneak a look at; to take a quick look at; to peep (through a telescope, microscope, etc.); to stick out (a scarf from a collar, etc.)
glittering; sparkling; glistening; twinkling
guy; fellow; chap; bastard; asshole; arsehole
some people; a few people; several people
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that
a short while ago; a moment ago; just now; some time ago
leaving somebody behind; abandoning someone; marooning someone
to exchange glances; to look at each other; to postpone; to put off; to contrast; to compare
dispute; conflict; trouble; strife
noninvolvement; nonintervention; neutrality
offense; offence; method of attack
in form; ceremonial; for form's sake; pro forma
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
to glare at; to scowl at; to stare intensely at; to examine carefully; to estimate; to guess
chattering (teeth); (frozen, worried) stiff; rigid (personality, thinking, etc.); inflexible; voracious (e.g. work, study); without slack or pause
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
the future (usually distant); future tense; the world to come
difficult to ...; hard to ...
to break the silence; to break one's silence
battlefield; battleground
when it becomes; when it comes to
now (when it is already much too late); at this stage; afresh; anew; again
to hold one's tongue; to shut up
to become defiant; to fight back; to turn upon; to take the offensive
knowing; (an) acquaintance
century; hundred years; (fig.) a long time