a few years ago; some years back
(complete) destruction; annihilation; devastation
on and after; from ... onward; since
one-by-one; separately; in detail
close examination; careful investigation; investigation of a crime; inquiry into someone's guilt; winner (of the most rounds, i.e. a full game); (arch.) reciting and appreciating traditional poetry
to pass through; to pass by; to pass (of time); to elapse; to have expired; to have ended; to exceed
this way (of doing); this method; this sort (of thing); this type
one (esp. of two); the other; on the one hand; on the other hand; whereas; although
having in mind; happening to know (of); idea (of); inkling
to take (someone) by surprise; to do something unexpected
stern expression; severe expression; grim expression
to pierce; to stab; to sting; to bite; to sew; to stitch; to pole (a boat)
contents; content; substance; matter; detail; import
severe; strict; hard (to do); difficult; intense (e.g. cold); harsh (weather)
to become confused (disconcerted, disorganized, disorganised); to be flustered; to panic; to hurry; to rush; to hasten
correspondence (to); equivalence; suitability; coordination; dealing with; coping with
honest; frank; candid; honestly; frankly
to disappear (of people or animals); to go (away); to leave; to no longer exist
both; both sides; both parties
one's body; one's person; oneself; one's appearance; one's place (in society, etc.); one's position
unfathomable; inestimable; immeasurable
to see to it that ...; to make sure that ...; to try to ...; to make an effort to ...
opinion; view; comment; scolding; reprimand; rebuke
skeptical; sceptical; incredulous
effect; effectiveness; efficacy; effects (e.g. sound effects, visual effects, special effects)
tremendous; immense; enormous; colossal; stupendous; huge
power; authority; jurisdiction
influence; clout; leverage
to partition; to divide; to direct; to manage; to settle accounts; to assume a crouching posture (at the start of a bout)
to fall (over, down); to collapse; to be destroyed (in a collapse); to collapse; to be confined to bed (with an illness); to come down with; to die
holding (a conference, exhibition, etc.); opening; hosting (e.g. the Olympics)
preparation; arrangements; getting ready; provision; setup; reserving
unable to do (as one wishes); able to do only with great effort; almost impossible to do; beyond one's control; not always turning out as one wishes; not going the way one wants it to
deterioration; getting worse; worsening; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
plot; scheme; trick; design; intrigue; artifice
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
even if; even though; even; too; whether ... or ...; no matter (what, where, who, etc.)
posture; pose; position; attitude; approach; stance
first; foremost; most important; best; greatest; above all
to plan; to form a plan; to scheme; to envision; to intend to do
close; intimate; on good terms
crime; sin; penalty; sentence; fault; responsibility