strength; power; proficiency; ability
abasement; fall; forfeiture; sinking (in people's estimation)
hard to get; hard to come by
disadvantageous; long (odds)
bet; wager; stake; gamble
several years; a few years
concealment; hiding; ambush; incubation; latency; dormancy
one's habitual practice; usual measure; old trick
intelligence gathering; information gathering
doubt; suspicion; misgivings; scruples
to rub out; to clean off; to clear away; to efface; to erase
for a long time; since long ago; always; already; far in advance (e.g. reservation)
doing (with resolve); carrying out (e.g. a plan)
established (existing) policy (procedure(s))
possible; likely; probable
even so; anyhow; at any rate
to not take seriously; to take lightly
to get close; to cuddle close together; to nestle close to; to snuggle up to
tide; current; sea water; opportunity; chance; thin soup of fish or shellfish boiled in seawater
odour; odor; scent; aura; whiff; smacks of ...
stone paving; cobble paving; stone steps; check (pattern); pavé; rectangular dessert (usu. made from chocolate or several layers of sponge cake)
(Western) bell tower; campanile; belfry
to give one's name; to introduce oneself; to announce one's candidacy
residence; abode; dwelling
convenience; user-friendliness
(former) Eastern Bloc countries
meeting; assembly; association; conjunction
exterior; packaging; cladding; armor (armour); arm
minimum; lowest; minimal; least
to abate; to decrease; to diminish; to shorten
market (financial, stock, domestic, etc.); marketplace; exchange; (street) market
party; group; crew; company (of troops); corps; unit
public square; square; plaza; open space; clearing
as much as possible; as far as possible; whenever possible; if (at all) possible
soon; before long; shortly; close (by); near; nearby
to shake; to jolt; to rock (cradle); to swing
congestion; crush; crowding; confusion; disorder
scenery; scene; landscape; scene (e.g. of a crime)