in any case; regardless; either way; since it makes no difference anyway (you might as well ...); since it won't change the outcome; if you are doing it regardless
satisfactory; decent; good; proper; respectable
regret; repentance; remorse
crisp (e.g. potato chip, fried fish, etc.); crunchy; grumpily; touchily; scratching; crunchies
time; (the) hour; favourable time; opportunity; chance
crowded; packed; crammed; cramped; filled; overflowing
friendly chat; pleasant chat; lighthearted talk; friendly conversation
gorgeous; gaudy; dazzling; gay; resplendent
far away; far off; nowhere near; far cry
to suffer a disappointment; to feel let down; to have one's attack (question, etc.) sidestepped; to be given the slip
several people; a few people
a puff; a smoke; (short) rest; break; one dose (of medicine or poison); (brief) lull
to prick up one's ears and listen; to listen attentively
judging from appearances; to all appearances; from the looks of it; on the face of it; apparently; seemingly
end of war; cessation of hostilities
to celebrate; to congratulate; to present (a gift) in celebration; to drink in celebration; to wish for (a happy future, good fortune, etc.); to pray for
invasion (e.g. of a country); raid; aggression
treaty; pact; convention; agreement
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
period; epoch; the times; those days; oldness; ancientness
running about; making every effort (to do); busying oneself (with); being busily engaged (in); good offices; efforts
great achievement; great feat; great work; great undertaking
bad feeling; cares; ill feeling; grudge; sense of discomfort; discontent
each and all; every single one; everybody
to become loose; to slacken (e.g. rope); to become less tense; to relax; to slacken (e.g. coldness, supervision); to become lax; to become softer (e.g. ground, facial expression)
on a stage; on a platform; on an altar
past middle age; nearing old age; near-elderly; age 40
notice; attention; observation
close aide (of a powerful person); close associate; entourage; attendant; retainer
to put on (one's head); to wear; to be covered with (dust, snow, etc.); to pour (water, etc.) on oneself; to bear (e.g. someone's debts, faults, etc.); to take (blame); to overlap (e.g. sound or color)
you (people); gentlemen; ladies and gentlemen; my friends
to stake; to risk; to bet; to wager
warfare; the maelstrom of war; disorder brought about by war
daring; brave; bold; valiant; intrepid; dauntless
to assemble (in a hall); to meet together (in a room)
really; truly; very; extremely; exceedingly; sincerely
long (time); longstanding; for a long time
charge; cost; generation; age; era; a representative of; on behalf of
stirring; slight movement
to listen attentively to; to be absorbed in (listening to)
foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
suspicion will raise bogies; once you suspect something, everything else will look suspicious; jumping at shadows