to reach the point where ...; to come to ...; to come to be that ...; to start to ...; to begin to ...
bad; wrong; must not (do, be); should not; useless; no good; hopeless
intelligence gathering; information gathering
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
to decide to; to pretend that; to make a practice of doing; to make it a rule to
circumference; outskirts; environs; (computer) peripheral
first of all; to begin with; probably; most likely; more or less (satisfactory); on the whole
important position; strategic point; important point; main point; essentials
abruptly; suddenly; all of a sudden; without warning
defense; defence; safeguard; protection
strength; power; proficiency; ability
plural; multiple; plural (number)
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
big; large; loud; extensive; spacious; important
preventing (someone) from leaving; confinement; keeping indoors; being stranded; grounding
to eat; to drink; to receive (e.g. a blow); to be on the receiving end (of something undesirable); to undergo (trouble)
necessary; needed; essential; necessity; need; requirement
everything; all; the whole; entirely; completely; wholly
as planned; according to plan
influence; power; might; influence (of stones)
gaining total control (of people or counties); suppression; oppression; control; mastery; ascendancy
to go; to move (towards); to move through; to travel across; to go (well, badly, etc.); to proceed; to do (in a particular way)
survival; remaining; being extant; being left
few; little; small (amount); low; scarce; insufficient
easily; readily; quickly; lightly (seasoned food, applied make-up, etc.); plainly; simply
in this way; like this; this (much); so; uh; er
to fall into (someone's) hands; to fall under someone's control; to become someone's property (e.g. of an object)
to have been decided (so) that; to have been arranged (so) that
more and more; all the more; at last; finally; (at the) last moment; worst possible time
genuine; real; authentic; full-scale; full-blown; all-out
going into battle; departure for the front; appearing (in a match); starting an election campaign
natural; right; proper; naturally; as a matter of course; rightly
army; armed forces; military authorities; team; group
participation; joining; entry
invasion (e.g. of a country); raid; aggression
fort; stronghold; fortification
border; boundary; turning point; watershed; area; region
neighborhood; neighbourhood; vicinity; environs; surrounding area; district
foothold; footing; toehold; stepping stone
simple; easy; uncomplicated; brief; quick; light
very; considerably; by no means; not readily; middle; half-way point
difficult to ...; hard to ...