at any cost; at any price; at any expense
fast-talking; rapid talking
hegemony; leadership; initiative
cannot (due to external circumstances); cannot afford to; must not; impossible to; no way one can (do)
lasting long; continuation; keeping at (something); sticking to (something)
to be exhausted; to be worn out
dwelling; house; residence; living; life
remote place; backcountry; the sticks; hinterland
custom; habit; customary practice
downfall; ruin; collapse; destruction
normalcy; normality; normal
to pass the baton (e.g. in a relay race); to pass the baton; to hand on the torch
other people's affairs; somebody else's problem
to expose to danger; to imperil; to jeopardize
such a thing; something like that
domestic and foreign; inside and outside the country
to deepen; to heighten; to intensify
opponent; rival; adversary; menace; danger; threat
to abate; to decrease; to diminish; to shorten
to bend one's head slightly to one side; to look slightly doubtful
personality; style; appearance
fall; decline; lowering; deterioration; degradation
cruel; heartless; violent; intense; very bad; terrible
wealthy; rich; affluent; well-off
useless; futile; unnecessary; needless; not on business; unrelated
very hungry; starving; ravenous
great; grand; magnificent; outstanding; mighty
to injure; to damage; to kill; to hinder; to obstruct
to have meaning; to be meaningful
still more; even more; all the more; still less; even less
to raise one's voice; to lift one's voice; to speak emphatically
phantom; vision; illusion; extremely rare item
right to decide; having say (in a decision)
nothing but; none other than