to level (earth); to cut through (a mountain); to split (the opposition); to break (strike)
groundless (rumour, accusation, etc.); unfounded; baseless; without a shred of truth
slander; libel; defamation; calumny; smear
about; concerning; related to; -ish
manipulation of information; spin
external; foreign (e.g. relations); public (e.g. image)
official; formal; formula (e.g. mathematical); official (social media) account (of a company, organization, etc.)
declaration; statement; proclamation
moderate (degree); proper (amount); temperate; suitable
leak (of information); leakage (of electricity)
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
safe (e.g. choice); secure; innocuous; acceptable; passable; satisfactory
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
(in) the air; midair; sky
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
to do for (the sake of someone else)
to open one's mouth (to talk); to (start to) tell
to shrug (shoulders); to duck (head); to draw back (body)
sweetly smiling; like the smiling of a beauty; gracious
until then; till then; to that extent; the end of it; all there is to it
confused; disordered; faltered; incoherent; inconsistent
as expected; just as one thought; as feared; sure enough
to spare; to grudge; to regret; to lament; to be reluctant (to do); to be unwilling
in turns; in series; in order; by rotation
to make absolutely sure (that all is right); to use every means; to take all possible measures
temporary; provisional; fictitious; assumed (name); hypothetical; theoretical
summary; recapitulation; aggregation
notification; official notice; directive (e.g. from higher to lower levels of the administration); being well versed (in); being proficient (in)
just when (one is about to ...); just as; the very moment when; on the point of
drumming (noise); beating; rapidly; quickly; continuously; one after the other
omen; portent; sign; presage; harbinger; premonition
performance (as opposed to practice); going before an audience or on-air; game; match; high of the season; height (of summer, etc.)
to exceed (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to surpass; to be more than; to be better than
if one is unlucky; if one is careless; if things don't go well
seriously; no kidding; joking aside; in all seriousness
that well-known ...; the one and only ...; that; those; the
end of war; cessation of hostilities
the point just before ...; the point of (doing); the verge (of); (just before the) edge
no matter what it takes; by any means necessary; at all costs; by hook or by crook
to get strong; to gain strength
irritating; aggravating; upsetting; maddening; infuriating; exasperating
at this point; at this last moment; this late in the game
groundless; entirely contrary to fact