laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
separate room; another room; special room; (arch.) concubine (of a noble)
conclusion from reasoning, judgement or calculation based on something read or heard; reason; cause; meaning; circumstances; situation
unexpected; unforeseen; strange
success in life; getting ahead; successful career; promotion; climbing the corporate ladder; eminence
top brass; upper echelon; higher-ups; top management; upper reaches; top of the pile
array; muster; line-up; full force
to relapse; to reassert; to review
liver; innards; courage; spirit; crux; essential point
presence; sitting with; being with
your Excellency; his Excellency; her Excellency
nonexistent; nil; none; nothing (at all); bugger-all
leaving as is; leaving alone; leaving to chance; neglecting; abandoning
our country; our land; one's own country
good-naturedness; good-natured person; credulous person; easy mark
meaningfully (smiling, grinning, etc.); suggestively; broadly; sneeringly
stipulation; prescription; provision; regulation; rule
to make (the best) use of; to put to good use; to let live; to keep alive; to revive; to resuscitate
to go smoothly; to turn out well; to do the trick; to have peaceful relations
exemption; exoneration; discharge
(outward) looks; features; face; countenance; expression
due form; official; formality
not in one's recollection; having no recollection (of); having no memory (of)
riding together; riding with
to fold one's arms; to link arms with someone
to take an attitude; to take a stance; to commit oneself; to assume a position
being beaten by one's opponent's persistence; being outlasted; running out of patience; giving in; succumbing (to)
unmarried; not yet married
where ... is concerned; when it becomes; if it becomes
dissatisfaction; discontent; displeasure; complaint; unhappiness
pressure; stress; pressure (e.g. political); coercion; arm-twisting
severe; strict; hard (to do); difficult; intense (e.g. cold); harsh (weather)
how; in what way; why; for what reason; cannot possibly; no way
denial; negation; negation (logic); NOT operation
to be given; to be granted; to be honored with; to give; to bestow; to confer
preference; priority; precedence
the best one can do; one's best effort; with all one's might; to the best of one's ability
commitment; pledge; promise
to go upstream; to go back (in time, to origin); to date back to; to trace back to
inside; within; while (e.g. one is young); during; among; amongst; in (secret, chaos, poverty, etc.)