when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
to decide to; to pretend that; to make a practice of doing; to make it a rule to
minimum; lowest; minimal; least
to keep within limits (e.g. spending); to restrain (e.g. emotions); to control; to hold back (e.g. an enemy); to check; to curb
to ask; to enquire; to inquire; to search; to look for; to look into
unexpressed; unspoken; implied; implicit
when push comes to shove; when needed; when necessity arises; when the moment arrives
to cut down; to slay; to truncate; to round down; to omit; to discard
to become desperate; to give in to despair
to be anxious or concerned about; to ponder (anxiously); to fear; to investigate; to consider; to plan
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
(not so) much; (not) very
criticism; judgement; judgment; comment
to receive; to get; to accept; to take; to interpret; to understand
cannot be helped; unavoidable; pointless; useless; hopeless (person); annoying
bad guy; villain; evildoer; scoundrel
to be evasive; to give an evasive answer; to speak ambiguously; to prevaricate; to cook up a specious story to get out of an uncomfortable situation; to make do with
way (of doing); manner; method; means
besides; in addition; also; moreover
caller; visitor; company; guest
while it may be true that; just because; nevertheless; not necessarily
reserve; constraint; declining; refraining; forethought; foresight
in the same way as; just like
same; identical; equal; anyway; anyhow; in either case
deterrence; ability to deter (an attack, etc.)
that's the way it is; such is life
to accept; to receive; to agree
just like; (virtually) no different from; (almost) the same as; as good as (e.g. dead, settled)
company; lot; bunch; troupe; company (of musicians)
surely; undoubtedly; sternly; severely; having no slack; rigid
hey; you; hey; hey; hold on; yo
appearance; air; condition; state; form
to build up; to establish; to form; to become (a state); to accomplish; to achieve; to change into
other (place, thing, person); the rest; outside; beyond; nothing except; nothing but