to leave one's seat; to temporarily excuse oneself (from a meeting, etc.); to step outside; to be away (from one's desk, etc.)
at the critical moment; when the time comes; when it's most important; when necessary; in an emergency; when push comes to shove
obstruction; check; hindrance; prevention; impediment; interdiction
carrying (on one's person or in the hand); mobile phone; cell phone
to associate with; to keep company with; to go out with; to go along with; to follow someone's lead; to accompany someone
to afflict; to torment; to harass; to molest
to peep (through); to peek; to await (one's chance); to guess; to infer
preface; introduction; preamble
Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; USSR
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest
lonely (place); remote; in the middle of nowhere
the ways of the world; human nature
state of things; state of affairs; condition; situation; circumstances
why?; what for?; how?; by what means?
superiors; big shots; higher-ups; VIPs; dignitaries
et cetera; etc.; and the like; the likes of; something like
to become known; to come to light; to be known; to be understood; to clearly not amount to much; to be insignificant
incomprehensible; mysterious; inexplicable; inscrutable; enigmatic; baffling
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
wiping out; sweeping away; eradicating; dispelling
reason; logic; sense; natural way of things
to need; to call for; to require
easily; readily; quickly; lightly (seasoned food, applied make-up, etc.); plainly; simply
to wrinkle up (one's eyebrows, one's nose); to furrow; to crimple
to be called ...; to be referred to as ...
(with) great vigour (from the way splitting bamboo goes all down the stick); irresistible force
devoting oneself to; concentrating on; being an ardent admirer of; (arch.) tipping over and collapsing
tank (military vehicle); chariot
denotes uncertainty; such things as A and B; A and B and so on; A and B and the like