being extremely busy; being swamped with work
anyhow; in any case; at any rate; at best; at most
at any rate; anyhow; anyway; in any case; because; as you know
to make fun of; to look down on; to make light of
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
serious condition; critical condition
to recover consciousness; to come to
without; unacceptable; not alright; unsatisfactory
direction; way; person; lady; method of; manner of; care of ...
close connection; deep involvement; close relationship
duration; continuance; survival; persistence; retention
considerably; fairly; quite
suspicious; dubious; doubtful; unsure; untrustworthy; unreliable; strange
fully armed; armed to the teeth
everyone; anyone; no one; nobody
having many difficulties in store; grim prospects
to take action; to start; to get started; to begin to do
peace talks; peace negotiations
danger; peril; hazard; risk
to fold one's arms; to stand and watch (without interfering); to stand idly by; to lie in wait; to be ready and waiting
cleaning up somebody else's mess; carrying the can; ass-wiping; arse-wiping
to put one's life on the line; to risk one's life; to put everything one has into it
(not) at all; (not) in the least; (none) whatsoever
attachment (esp. to things); love; affection
otherwise; or else; if not
to be mixed; to be blended with; to be combined; to associate with; to mingle with; to interest
one's heart; one's mind; one's intentions
to prepare oneself for the worst; to strengthen one's resolve; to accept one's fate; to prepare oneself
long ago; already; a long time ago
combat; battle; action; active service; actual fighting
to step back; to move back; to withdraw (from the presence of a superior); to leave; to resign; to retire
putting one's life on the line; staking one's life (on); risking one's life; life and death situation
beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
unprecedented; unique; unparalleled
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest
inevitable; necessary; foregone; brinkmate (inevitable checkmate)
serious; earnest; real sword (as opposed to a wooden practice weapon)