beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
maneuvers; manoeuvers; machinations; scheming
enterprise; business; company; corporation
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
to stuff into; to jam; to shorten; to move closer together; to reduce (spending); to conserve; to focus intently on
several people; a few people
large; big; great; prominent; -sized; as big as; university
aperture; bore; calibre; caliber
at once; immediately; right away; directly (face, lead to, etc.); automatically (mean, result in, etc.)
commandant; commanding officer; general
inquiry; enquiry; query; reference
one's own judgement (judgment); decision made without consulting others; arbitrary decision; dogmatism
multi-floor building; multi-storey building; tall building
battery; battery; pitcher and catcher
slow; sluggish; dull; lax; sloppy; lenient
conclusive evidence; positive proof; definite proof; confirmation
smouldering fire; smoldering fire; embers
succeeding; following; trailing; next
not only ... (but also); not just; as well as
practice; practising; experience
just before one's eyes; in one's presence; personally
to prepare for death; to get ready to die
in all parts of the world; in all countries; anywhere in the world; both in the Occident and the Orient
encirclement; encircling net; tight besiegement
to go around; to return; to surround; to concern (usu. of disputes)
lieutenant general; vice-admiral
to pass; to pass on; to give (something) a miss; to cut it out; to knock off (for the day); to let the matter drop
after a long time; for the first time in a while
trembling with excitement
to encourage; to cheer; to raise (the voice)
office (e.g. the Oval Office)