back-facing; backwards; backward-looking; retrogressive; reactionary
ticket; coupon; bond; certificate
blockade; lockdown; sealing off (an area); freezing (funds)
number of votes obtained (polled)
losing posture; falling position from which it is impossible to recover; lame duck; hopeless situation
counting ballots; tally (of votes)
vote; ballot; label; ticket; tag
to appear all together; to be all present
most (numerous); largest (number of)
mudslinging contest; mudslinging match
suddenly and forcefully (e.g. jerk, poke, shove); in a single gulp; in one go
identically; in the (exact) same way; similarly
discussion; talk; tête-à-tête; conference
skirmish; brush (with the enemy); small fight with a military enemy; squabble; quarrel; brief argument
interpersonal; between individuals
to go through the proper procedures; to follow the required steps
equally; thoroughly; all over; uniformly; without exception; all around
behind closed doors; behind-the-scenes; (under the veil of) secrecy
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
to fight; to exchange blows; to rally
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
profit; gains; benefit; advantage; grace (of God, Buddha, etc.) (esp. as attained through rightful actions, prayer, adherence to one's faith, etc.); blessing
consultation; discussion; conference; collusion; bid-rigging
quick on the uptake; quick to catch on; perceptive; intuitive
to pull into; to draw in; to bring in; to win over
sharing one's lot with another; being in the same boat
arrangement; pact; agreement
pipe; tube; channels, official or otherwise; (business) connections; tobacco pipe
to become rounded; to roll into a ball
paper-thin wafer (for wrapping powdered medicine, candies, etc.)
probe each other; sound each other out
childish; child-like; immature; infantile