intelligence; intellect; brains
future (usually near); prospects
argument; discussion; dispute; controversy
on purpose; deliberately; intentionally
to close (e.g. book, eyes, meeting, etc.); to shut
firm; determined; resolute; conclusive
disorder; chaos; confusion; mayhem
to be effective; to take effect; to work; to function well; to be possible (to do, use, etc.); to be able to
to be in a hurry; to be impatient; to be anxious (to do); to get a fright; to panic; to get flustered
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
when it comes to ...; if one were to speak of ...; by ... you mean ...; when you say ... you mean that ...; whenever ...; if it's ... then (without fail)
leadership; initiative; spearhead
position; situation; viewpoint; standpoint; point of view
grasping; seizing; holding; commanding; having control over
-ish; -like; resembling; appearing to be; seeming to be
what is it (that); the meaning of something; what something is about
secret; secrecy; mystery; secret (e.g. to success); esoteric teachings
clue; lead; key; handhold; hold
to seize; to catch; to obtain; to acquire; to understand; to grasp
day after tomorrow; wrong (e.g. direction)
investigation; inspection; examination; tune; note; melody
without; but if; otherwise; or else
investigation; examination; inquiry; enquiry; survey
Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; USSR
(within a) territory; domains
ruins (of a building, town, etc.); remains
the point of ...; the place where ...; a place called ...; places known as ...; I would say ...; ... is how I'd put it
in the meanwhile; during the time
matter; affair; counter for (received) emails, text messages, voicemail messages, etc.; counter for accounts (on a website, email service, etc.)
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
Courtenay; Courtnay; Courtney
grandfather; male senior-citizen
yes; sure; gotcha; sycophantically; servilely; fawningly
negligent; careless; slipshod; slovenly; reckless; irresponsible
command; control; commander
this and that; various things
well; properly; best regards; please remember me; just like ...; as though one were ...
breaking up (e.g. meeting); dispersing (e.g. crowd); dissolving (company, organization, etc.); liquidating; dissolving (diet, parliament, etc.)