outline; summary; overview; synopsis; abstract; abridgment
serious condition; critical condition
ace up one's sleeve; trump card; secret skills; secret; (arch.) left hand
almost completely empty; virtually empty; inadequately defended; undefended; unguarded
to make an appeal (to the public); to rally (people) to one's cause; to call to action; to spur on; to fire (someone) up; to rally (troops, employees, etc.)
by (means of); by doing; due to; via; through
probably; (most) likely; in all likelihood; I suspect; I dare say; I'm afraid
occupying; having (an area) all to oneself; military occupation; possession; capture
to come to know; to perceive; to realize; to realise; to become aware (of)
to retaliate; to return a blow; to strike back (at); to retort
having wounds all over one's body; being wounded all over; receiving a drubbing; being subjected to a barrage of criticism
dignitaries; very important persons; luminaries; big shots; VIPs
to feel relieved of one's burden; to have a weight removed from one's mind
cost of medical treatment; medical expenses; fees for treatment
encroachment; making inroads (into); (slow but steady) invasion
survival; remaining; being extant; being left
to butt into a conversation (from someone uninvolved)
useless; no future in it; doesn't make sense; having no point
laughable; ridiculous; pitiful; contemptible; absurd; nonsensical
alternating between happiness and anxiety; swinging between joy and sorrow; being glad and sad by turns; oscillating between optimism and pessimism
to take back; to recapture
to draw near; to draw closer; to press (e.g. for an answer); to hound
look of amazement; looking dumbfounded
young commander; young leader; young master
quick pace; quick steps; quick march; trot (horse gait)
duple time; duple meter; duple metre; two-four time
to smell; to smell of; to have a smell
fast walking; semi-jogging
to kill; to choke the life out of
to fix (a time, date, etc.); to set; to expect; to hope for; to resolve (to do); to decide upon
gradually becoming poor; situation getting gradually worse and worse
to challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to attempt; to pressure (someone) for sex; to make advances to