(in) secrecy; behind closed doors
secret feud; wordless pantomime performed in the dark
vast; extensive; immense; huge; large; grand
to own; to receive; to understand
inheritance dispute; succession dispute
eldest child; oldest child; first child; eldest son; oldest son
seat; place; position; status; gathering; party; stand
about; on; regarding; per; for every
it's my turn; the ball is in my court; it's up to me
rumor; rumour; gossip; report
probity check; background investigation
nonexistent; not being (there); not having; not
hound; hunting dog; running dog; dupe; tool of another person
several years; a few years
making rapid progress; making great advances; rush; dash; onslaught
shadow (e.g. on someone's happiness); cloud; shade; gloom
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
reaching a peak; reaching the limit; plateauing; maxing out
stage (platform); performance; show; stage (phase); part; stage
to rise (to a high position); to work one's way up; to push one's way up; to be promoted
adventurous spirit; sense of adventure
concrete; definite; specific; material; substantial
stepping (in place); stamping (up and down); stomping; standstill; stalemate
to wear away; to rub down; to abrade
same period; corresponding period; same year (of graduation, entering a company, etc.); contemporary; synchronization; synchronism
foothold; footing; position; standing; ground
to intimidate; to frighten; to scare; to threaten (e.g. peace); to jeopardize; to endanger
rise (e.g. of a movement); emergence; rearing one's head; gaining prominence; coming to the fore; gaining power
to trouble; to bother; to annoy; to give trouble
to be tired of; to be sick of; to get fed up with
business world; business circles; (the) industry
loose; slack; gentle (slope, curve); slow (speed); lenient; liberal
occupation; calling; livelihood
secret information; intelligence
in that case; (might not be what was expected or hoped for but) if that's the case
one's body alone; having nothing except one's body; just oneself (with no belongings)
to fight against; to oppose; to face
lonely (place); remote; in the middle of nowhere
to run around (wildly); to rush about all over the place; to make every effort (to do); to do everything one can
humming a tune (while doing something else)
to succeed (in doing); to manage to do; to accomplish; to carry off; to pull off
to compete ruthlessly; (lit.) to sharpen swords
charming; fascinating; attractive