in a manner of speaking; as it were; so to speak; if you like; per se
public works; public-works projects; public utilities
wages; pay; rental payment
labor; labour; manpower; working force
to moisten; to wet; to profit; to enrich; to benefit
increase in population; population growth
deterioration; getting worse; worsening; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
possible; conceivable; likely; probable
disadvantage; drawback; demerit; bad point; minus
fort; fortress; stronghold; fortification
demolition; taking down; dissolution (of an organization, company, etc.); breaking up; dissection (of a body); dismemberment
diversion (e.g. of funds); appropriation; misappropriation; making use of (for another purpose); reuse; repurpose
to chase away; to drive away; to drive out
stronghold; citadel; base (of operations); headquarters
neglecting; leaving alone
defense; defence; protection
reason of being; raison d'être; meaning of one's existence
good-value; economical; advantageous (price, deal, etc.); useful; helpful
filling (up) a hole; filling in (for a gap, vacancy, etc.); stopgap; making up (for a loss, damage, etc.); covering (a deficit); fill-in-the-blank activity
being incident to; being accompanied by; being collateral with; being attached to
big mouth; mouth opened wide; boastful speech; tall talk; large amount; large quantity
one's own handwriting; autograph
vain person; ostentatious person; show-off
to assemble everything together; to do something as a group
to jump at; to leap at; to fly at; to spring at; to pounce on
to flatter; to toady (to); to curry favor (with); to butter up; (lit.) to grind sesame seeds
following (e.g. someone's opinion); being servile to; adherence; compliance; emulation; mimicking
greedy; ruthless; cruel; exploitative
modus operandi; criminal technique; trick
quickly; briefly; rashly; carelessly; (flowing) in trickles
to dig up; to expose; to disclose
without hesitation; with great optimism; (pushing or pulling) strongly; (drinking) heavily
entering (government) service; attendance (at one's office); presenting oneself for duty
(many) mountains; very much (wanting to do something one cannot); greatly; so many; a lot of
selection (from many people for an important position); exceptional promotion
one's son; punk; brat; bastard
illegitimate child; secret love child
somewhat; to some extent; to some degree; some; part; portion
to stand still (for a while); to remain in one place; to stand alone (of a building, statue, tree, etc.); to stand quietly; to wander about; to loiter