to enlist as a supporter; to win over to one's side; to gain as one's ally
firm promise; definite promise
important task; important role; major part (in a film, play, etc.); leading role; high-scoring combination
to accomplish; to achieve; to carry out; to do ... completely; to do ... entirely
to place (in position); to fix; to install; to seat (someone); to settle (upon something); to fix (e.g. one's gaze)
to scheme; to plan; to play a trick; to invent; to conspire; to frame up
being greatly in the red; taking a big loss; heavy deficit
administrative ability; managerial ability; ability to manage; administrative capacity
to find fault (with); to cavil (at); to carp (about); to throw a wet blanket (on); to throw cold water (on); to jinx
royal authority; regal power; authority of the king
approval; agreement; support; favour; favor
the future; future prospects
important person; influential figure; big shot; big thing; big one; big game
briskly with small steps; trotting
to spell; to write; to compose; to bind (e.g. documents); to patch
book; booklet; story book; pamphlet; notebook
just because; even if; even though
effective control (over territory); working control
influential person; man of importance
new; novel; fresh; recent; latest; up-to-date
welcome; (warm) reception
not necessarily so; is not always true; there is no guarantee that ...; there is no telling
to rise in revolt; to raise the standard of revolt
pretending to obey but secretly betraying (someone)
concession; conciliation; compromise
assumption (of office); taking up (a post); inauguration; installation
ancestral; hereditary; handed down from generation to generation; for generations; from generation to generation
staunch; hardcore; dyed-in-the-wool; metal reinforcement
babysitting; babysitter; nanny; taking care of; looking after; accompanying
mumblingly; mutteringly; unintelligibly
record high; all-time high
security; stability; safety; peace
to talk; to tell; to recite; to pledge; to conspire with
to bite (at); to snap at; to snap at (someone); to flare up at; to jump down (someone's) throat
to parry; to sidestep; to dodge
madly in love; head over heels; fanatically doting; collapsed; out of spirits
scene; spectacle; sight; view
to picture; to come into one's mind; to remember
grandfather; male senior-citizen; old man
to grow senile; to be childish with age; to be mentally slow; to be befuddled; to play stupid; to say something stupid (oft. on purpose; esp. as part of a comedic routine)