cliche; platitude; formula; set phrase
diamond; (railway) schedule; timetable; diagram
to creak; to squeak; to grate; to grind; to rasp
condyle; (arch.) counter for grains and small spheres
characteristic; traditional; peculiar; inherent; native; eigen-
getting poised again for charging; toeing the mark again; starting again; getting a fresh start; going back to square one
to retreat; to back off; to draw back; to step back; to shrink away
ill-natured; twisted; ill-natured person; twisted person
complete defeat; utter defeat; annihilation; to be completely defeated; to be beaten hollow
rolling stock; railroad cars; wheeled vehicles
wasteland; wilderness; abandoned land; devastated land
to break the silence; to break one's silence
slow; clumsy; stupid; irritating
way to go!; attaboy!; hear, hear!
unreliable; uncertain; indefinite; unclear
hut; house; boarding house; school dormitory; (arch.) one day's march (approx. 12.2 km)
foundation; base; basis; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature
destruction by fire; losing in a fire; being burnt down
desperation; despair; self-abandonment
conclusive evidence; positive proof; definite proof; confirmation
extravagant; absurd; unbelievable; enormous; tremendous; extraordinary
nongovernment organization (organisation); NGO
broadcast program; broadcast programme
principle; general rule; as a rule; in principle; in general
not non-existent; not completely lacking; there is some; certainly existent
insular; closed; unsociable; exclusive
after an interval of ... years; for the first time in ... years