meagre; meager; scarce; limited; destitute; hard up
to pick a fight; to pick a quarrel
ordinary; average; run-of-the-mill
armed forces; military; (common) soldier; rank-and-file soldier; underling; ordinary employee
maintenance; servicing; putting in place; development; improvement
armaments; military preparations
strength; power; proficiency; ability
surrounding countries; neighboring countries; neighbouring countries
interference; intervention; meddling
in one go; in one gulp; in one breath; suddenly; all of a sudden; all at once
settlement; solution; resolution
to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to have a good command of (a language); to play proficiently (of a musical instrument); to work (a puppet); to pull the strings of a puppet
training; drill; practice; discipline
deployment; disposition; posting; stationing
to make out to be; to set someone up (as); to prepare (e.g. someone for a role); to make (e.g. "a man out of him"); to frame
there is no need to ...; it should hardly be necessary to ...
tank (military vehicle); chariot
unnecessary; not needed; not necessary
(in) secrecy; behind closed doors
charming; fascinating; attractive
plan; measure; means; scheme; policy
violation; offense; offence; breach; transgression; infringement
to whisper; to murmur; to rumor; to rumour
advanced; developed; seniority; senior; superior
various countries; several countries
allied forces; the Allies (e.g. in WWII)
(making a) lesson (of); (setting an) example; warning
developing (e.g. industry, town, economy)
countries; (various) nations
excess; surplus; superabundance; overabundance
tendency; trend; inclination
chemical plant; chemical factory; chemical works
several people; a few people
to obtain; to come into possession of; to get hold of; to get one's hands on
to miss (a train, bus, etc.); to fail to keep up with (e.g. the times); to be left behind by
refusal; rejection; denial; veto