to strain (one's ears, eyes); to prick up (one's ears)
odd couple; incongruous couple
return current; reflux; back flow
5,000,000; five million; (arch.) many
10,000,000,000; ten billion
local authority; local government; locality; local self-governing body; municipality
to get rid of; to erase; to dispel; to eradicate; to wipe away
according to plan; as planned; on target
to keep one's wits about one; to be on one's guard; to be wary of trickery
in truth; in actuality; at heart; the truth; the real story
extra-large portion; extra-sized serving
dubious; doubtful; of unknown authenticity
popular line (of products); best-selling line; hot sellers
to make sure of the truth
cannot contain one's anger; can't contain myself; staying angry
to save up; to stockpile; to stash away; to hoard; to amass; to salt away
miser; cheapskate; scrooge
imported article; foreign-made article; imported goods; foreign goods
to take a commission; to take a cut; to take a piece of the action; to take a kickback
conspirators; faction; cabal; clique
to rub together; to reconcile (ideas, proposals, plans); to compare and adjust
to rouse anger; to provoke wrath; to offend
remainder; the rest; residue
net earnings; net return; net income; net profit
necessary expenses; due charges; tax deductible expenses
evenhanded foreign policy; equidistant foreign policy
drastic change; sea change; major turnaround
step-up; advance; progress; increase
well-known; famous; noted; popular; recognized
to spread its roots (of a tree, etc.); to take root (of an ideology, etc.); to put down roots; to settle down (in a place)