sleepover; overnight stay
enquiry; inquiry; query; interrogation; ENQ
first report (esp. of an incident, disaster, or news story); initial report
unknown; unidentified; unspecified
proxy; agent; substitute; deputy; alternate; representative
setting the table; laying the table; setting up; getting one's ducks in a row; running interference
state of things; state of affairs; condition; situation; circumstances
to be imaginable; to be conceivable
loss and gain; advantage and disadvantage
political issue (problem)
studying abroad; studying at a different school, etc. (usu. for a specific purpose)
about; concerning; related to; -ish
extinguishing a fire; (Edo-period) fireman
one's person; around one's person
smelling burnt; smelling scorched; smelling of gunpowder (i.e. as if armed conflict is about to break out); tense; suspicious; dubious
to a greater or lesser extent (degree); more or less
debut; doing something for the first time; starting anew; starting afresh
a long way off; matter for the future; not going to happen anytime soon
true feelings; real intention; one's heart; one's right mind; one's senses; one's conscience
to think hard; to brood over; to worry too much (about); to torment oneself (with the thought of)
quite capable of ...; could happen; not unlikely to
(political) power; authority; influence
today and tomorrow; today or tomorrow; in a day or two; very soon
application; entry; request; subscription; offer; proposal
gossip; government OSI procurement; GOSIP
curious onlookers; rubbernecks
surface; face (i.e. the visible side of an object); front (of a building, etc.); obverse side (i.e. "head") of a coin; outside; exterior; appearance
exchange (e.g. cultural); interchange; interaction; alternating current; AC
the Big Dipper (asterism); the Plough; the Plow; Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn
self-government; autonomous government; devolved government (e.g. in the UK)
external; foreign (e.g. relations); public (e.g. image)
nature park; natural park
town; block; downtown; main street; street; road
sales pitch; sales lure; catchphrase