vivid; bright; brilliant; skillful; skilful; adept
businessman with political ties
to disrupt; to ruin; to hinder; to thwart
to pin down; to hold down; to cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand); to clutch (a body part in pain); to get a hold of; to obtain
major stockholder; large shareholder
patina; antique look; elegant simplicity; well-trained voice
making do; getting by (somehow); managing
same size; actual size; same scale
personal feelings; self-interest
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
killing; destruction of life; cruel; heartless; callous
delay; lag; postponement; falling behind
cliff edge; edge of a precipice; perilous position; critical moment; brink
branch office; branch store
if it's going to be that way, then ...; if given the choice; if possible; if anything
one-sided; unilateral; arbitrary
to abandon; to fail; to desert; to forsake
sacrifice; victim; sacrifice (to a deity)
still having a very small chance; still having a tiny shred of hope
as; because; with; due to
possession; retention; maintenance
amount sold; sales; proceeds; takings; turnover
my goodness!; oh my!; oh dear!
to mutter; to murmur; to grumble; to tweet (Twitter)
course (of events); development; progress; market order; order without limit
all; wholly; entirely; completely; without exception
inspection (e.g. customs, factory); examination; scan (e.g. MRI, PET, etc.)
mortgage; security; hypothec; pledge
valuation; appraisal; evaluation; appreciation; recognition; acknowledgement
big mouth; mouth opened wide; boastful speech; tall talk; large amount; large quantity
all-night vigil over a body; wake
to lean (to one side); to incline; to be unbalanced (e.g. diet); to be unduly weighted towards; to be partial; to be biased
morbid; unhealthful; insalubrious
pointing out; identification
stripping (of rights, office, etc.); deprivation; divestiture; forfeit; revocation