as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
confusion; dismay; consternation; panic
to seal (letter); to prevent; to forbid; to block
laborer; labourer; blue-collar worker
rascal; villain; scoundrel; ruffian; crook
to pile up; to accumulate
to blow off; to be blown off
bang; boom; crack; sound of something exploding, bursting or cracking
resembling closely; being strikingly similar; bearing a strong likeness
or something; for instance ... (though there are other suitable options); ... or ...; as soon as; right after; while still
interception; monitoring; tapping
calmness; composure; presence of mind; stability; steadiness
to become pale; to turn pale
to get in someone's pocket; to help oneself to someone's wallet; to curry favour (favor); to butter up; to get in close to one's opponent
to wind; to coil; to envelope; to shroud; to outflank; to skirt
may I ask (for); might I ask (that)
selection; classification; sorting; screening; triage
to breathe heavily (e.g. with much movement of the shoulders)
order; observance; discipline; rules; law; regulations
completely (beaten, defeated, etc.); thoroughly; utterly; black and blue; to a pulp
blow; hit (on the body); beating
bad feeling; feeling bad; disagreeable; unpleasant; revolting; gross
(coming to a) mutual understanding; understanding each other
service; ministry; attendance; offering goods at a reduced price; providing a service for free
to strike a chord; to tug at one's heartstrings; to resonate
several years; a few years
influential; powerful; popular; prosperous; doing well
to scatter; to disseminate (e.g. a rumor); to spread (e.g. germs); to distribute widely (e.g. leaflets); to hand out freely; to spend recklessly
fire fighting; fire department; fire brigade
pressure; stress; pressure (e.g. political); coercion; arm-twisting
handicraft; work; construction; maneuvering; manoeuvering
being done for; giving up; being in a hopeless situation; not knowing what to do; being brought to one's knees; (lit.) throwing up (one's) hands
a matter for speculation; only conjecture; just guesswork
insane; crazy; nuts; out of one's mind
key; lock; key (to a problem); clue