flying column; detached force
covert action; covert operations
to look down on; to condescend
in the end; finally; after all; ultimately
breaking off relations (with); severing one's connections (with); breaking with (e.g. one's past); insulation (electrical or thermal); isolation
foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
present age; present day; contemporary; modern era; modern times; contemporary era
vanguard; advance-guard point; advance detachment; vanguard; pioneer; avant-garde
opening (in a game of go, chess, etc.); early stages; initial phase; outset
timewise; temporal; chronal
locational advantage; advantageous position
9th day of the month; nine days
aim; goal; prospect; outlook
to be caught in a trap (snare, etc.); to fall for (a trick, ambush, etc.)
personality; style; appearance
actor; actress; player; performer
(in) the mountains; (among) the mountains; (through) the mountains; (in a) mountain valley
thorough; exhaustive; complete
rearing; training; nurture; cultivation; promotion
to explain clearly; to give detailed instructions
authority; expert; counter for messages, letters, notes, documents, etc.; understanding (esp. of male-female relations); tact; supernatural powers
to instigate; to tempt; to entice; to incite
significant; useful; meaningful; worthwhile; valuable; of interest
runny-nosed child; sniveler; sniveller; greenhorn; inexperienced person
to be offended; to get angry; to be stuffy; to be stifling; firmly (shutting one's mouth)
general idea; concept; notion
to move (to another area, country, etc.); to migrate
stagnation; tie-up; standstill; congestion; delay; accumulation
deployment; disposition; posting; stationing
to be forestalled; to be taken in; to be cheated; to be outwitted
not just once; more than once; many times; again and again
downstream; lower reaches of a river; lower classes
southwestern part; the southwest
old enemy; longtime enemy; arch-enemy; traditional rival; longstanding foe
construction at top speed
to build up; to complete; to construct; to make up; to fabricate; to invent
expert; skilled hand; person of experience
not the time for; not the place for; far from; far more than; nowhere near just; well beyond
revamping; reshaping; rearranging; reorganizing