armed forces; military; troops
ordering (materials); placing an order; order
mismatched; odd; irregular; inconsistent; incoherent; confused
an assortment; combination
at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
jamming; interference; cross talk
mechanism; machinery; trick; dodge; mechanical doll; string puppet
trade; business; occupation; profession; job
to have an idea; to have a clue
to break the silence; to break one's silence
information appliance; information device; information system
distant (from someone); aloof; estranged; knowing little (of); ill-informed (about); ignorant (of)
electronic information; electronic data; electronics and information
preeminence; excellence; superiority; transcendence
to defy accepted norms; to go off the rails; to be eccentric
death; decease; (arch.) death penalty (by strangulation or decapitation); (an) out
clique; group; (political) faction; wing; school; sect
to have an eye on; to zero in on
now that; since; so long as; because
wonder; admiration; being struck with admiration
fluttering; flapping; (arch.) flickering (light, flame, etc.); frill; piece of thin material
as far as ... is concerned; so far as ... can tell
to be a match for; to rival; to equal; to compare with; to be equivalent to
dangerous; critical; grave; uncertain; unreliable; dodgy
suspicious-looking; fishy
to stare fixedly at; to fix one's gaze on; to make sure of; to set one's eyes on (e.g. the future); to focus on
one's post; one's station; department; bureau; section
maximum preference; maximum priority; priority handling
to take (someone) away; to carry off; to abduct; to kidnap
rescue; extricate; reclaim; deliverance
duty; obligation; responsibility
meeting (face-to-face); seeing; visit; interview
reservation; appointment; contract; subscription; programming (e.g. a device); setting (e.g. a timer)
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
unhappiness; sorrow; misfortune; death (usu. of a relative); bereavement
investigation (e.g. into someone's guilt); questioning; pressing; catching up; overtaking
instead; but (on the other hand)
to be sullen; to be offended; to be huffy; to be stuffy; to be stifling; to be muggy
to tie; to bind; to bear (fruit); to close (e.g. deal); to confirm; to connect (two distant places); to close tightly
spirit; soul; drive; vigor; vigour