to start the debate; to get the ball rolling; to fire the first shot; to start a conversation
eagerness; enthusiasm; fervor; excitement; fighting spirit; fighting mood
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
discourtesy; impoliteness; excuse me; goodbye; to leave; to be rude
but; however; (and) yet; nevertheless; still; for all that
to be open (to traffic); to lead (to); to flow (of a liquid, current, etc.); to pass (through); to be conveyed (of an intention, meaning, etc.); to be understood (by); to be well versed (in)
space; room; unused land; room (for reconsideration, doubt, etc.); leeway; margin
duty; obligation; responsibility
it is assuredly that ...; can say with confidence that ...
painful; heartrending; trying; oppressive; suffocating; miserable
choices; alternatives; options
publicly; openly; ostensibly; formally
resistance; opposition; reluctance; repulsion; resistance; drag
chance (of success); odds
influence; clout; leverage
to rely on; to depend on; to count on; to turn to (for help)
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
to put to use; to make good use of; to exploit
war potential; military strength; fighting power; ability (to compete); capabilities; valuable asset
before one's own eyes; from under one's very nose; without doing anything; without resistance; helplessly; negligently
not only ... (but also); not merely; as well as; furthermore; besides; moreover
political and business circles; political and business establishment; politics and industry
adherent; devotee; believer
out of office; out of power; in opposition; unaffiliated (e.g. researcher, scientist); in private practice
development; growth; development (of a situation, story, etc.); advancement; playing around (sexually; esp. of a male homosexual); having an active sex life
weapon; arms; ordnance; weapon (something used to gain an advantage); asset
companion; partner; other party; addressee; opponent (sports, etc.)
at a disadvantage; in an unfavourable position; having poor prospects; standing little chance
practical use; application; making good use of; conjugation; inflection
to sense; to infer; to gather; to pick up on; to get wind of; to perceive
to turn; to rotate; to pass around; to send around; to move (someone or something to where its needed); to send; to turn (to a new use)
pressure; pressure (e.g. political); arm-twisting
confrontation; opposition; antagonism
going public (with a matter); becoming public knowledge; recourse to litigation; taking (a matter) to court
to read and understand; to interpret (e.g. a difficult text); to read deeply; to decipher; to decode
drying up; running dry; running out; being exhausted; being drained
difficult to ... (physically or emotionally); hard to ...
official; governmental; public (use, matter, forum, etc.); common; being public knowledge; being out in the open
indictment; prosecution; complaint
police; police officer; police station; self-appointed enforcer (of a rule, standard, etc.); busybody