at the very beginning of one's speech; immediately upon opening one's mouth (to speak); before anything else; first of all
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
tsk; tut; shoot; chirp; tweet
to look down on; to make light of
seed (e.g. of a plant); pip; progeny; offspring; paternal blood; lineage; sperm
in preparation (for); in case (of); in the lead-up (to)
house where one was born; one's parents' house
national politics; political situation; statecraft; body politic
to engage in; to participate in; to take part in; to be involved in
family a woman has married into
to be involved (in); to get involved (in); to relate to (a matter); to pertain to; to (seriously) affect; to concern
military forces; army; troops; number of soldiers
to refuse; to reject; to repel; to repulse; to make (someone) leave; to send away
the same; the said; likewise
time; season; period; phase; stage
to head out (for); to head (to); to go (to); to leave (for)
to scatter around; to leave untidy; to make a mess
balance of power (in a relationship); power dynamic
rivalry (between two equally strong sides); struggle for supremacy; competing (with); vying (with); contending (with); being an equal match (for)
by chance; by accident; accidentally; occasionally; once in a while; now and then
present condition; existing state; status quo; current state
good policy; wise policy; best plan
origin; birthplace; descent; lineage; ancestry
post horse; mounted courier; express messenger on horseback; fast horse; swift horse
to run; to run (of a vehicle); to drive; to rush (to); to dash; to retreat; to flee
sure; no mistaking it; for certain; without doubt
to raise an objection; to voice an opinion different from those of others
to write (e.g. a letter); to draw up (a document); to take down (e.g. notes); to have (lunch, dinner, etc.); to eat
procedure; process; proceedings; formalities
deletion; elimination; erasure; striking out
truth; reality; truly; really; absolute truth
in that respect; on that point; in that regard
to compete; to contest; to quarrel; to argue; to deny (e.g. evidence)
to speak one's mind; to be frank; to tell the truth
to commit (e.g. crime); to perpetrate; to break (e.g. rule); to violate; to rape; to violate
regarding ...; concerning ...; about ...; on ...; with respect to ...; in regard to ...
to fold (clothes, umbrella); to close (a shop, business); to vacate
real intention; motive; true opinion; what one really thinks
blame; censure; rebuke; reproof
good-naturedness; good-natured person; credulous person; easy mark
(nature of a) crime; (criminal) charge
(crime of) theft; (crime of) stealing; larceny