to be convinced (that); to be under the impression (that); to make up one's mind; to set one's heart on; to be obsessed (with a thought, idea, etc.); to think about obsessively
to trace back to (the origins of something)
interest; eagerness; enthusiasm
fallen angel (esp. Lucifer)
to begin (doing); to start (doing)
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
war; battle; campaign; (arch.) troops; (arch.) forces
decisive; resolute; determined; firm
muddy water; red-light district
rightly or wrongly; by all possible means; at all costs; at any cost; no matter what (happens); by fair means or foul
killing time; staving off boredom
ground; crust (earth); foundation (building, etc.); base; constituency; power base
to make the most of the present; to live for the moment; to seize the day
period; time; opportunity; chance; age; term (e.g. in office); session (e.g. of parliament)
to waste time; to kill time
latest; newest; late-breaking (news)
cooperation; tie-up; joint business; partnership; alliance; sponsorship
in name but not in reality
consultative body; advisory committee; advisory organ
influence; clout; leverage
presentation (e.g. of a gift)
one end; an end; part; fragment
abundant harvest; bumper crop
remodelling; remodeling; reorganization; reorganisation
partition; division; settlement of accounts; preliminary warm-up ritual; toeing the mark; directing
colonnade; row of columns
personnel; members; lineup (of a team); announcement of next day's match-ups
disguising oneself as a man; dressing as a man (for a woman); male clothing
stabbing (repeatedly); piercing; (words) cutting to the heart; striking home; loose; sloppy
weak and small; inferior in strength and size; minor; young; youthful
upstart; parvenu; jumped-up person
to treat (a guest); to receive; to entertain; to be hospitable to; to make welcome
majority decision; majority vote; majority rule
leading a meeting; presiding over a meeting; officiating at a ceremony; chairman; presenter; host
facilitator; programme director; steering committee (chair)
hooray!; cheers!; bravo!; loud (e.g. applause); enthusiastic; tumultuous
great success; roaring business; busy; packed-out
on bad terms; at loggerheads
knowingly or unknowingly; with or without someone's knowledge
to charge; to lunge; to flare up (at someone); to turn on (someone); to collide with; to bump into
seizure; confiscation; impounding; sequestration; forfeiture