keeping an alternative up one's sleeve; two-stage preparation
outbreak of war; starting a war
to set about in earnest; to make a strenuous effort; to put one's back into (doing)
skirmish; brush (with the enemy); minor battle; squabble; (petty) quarrel; argument
to announce; to tell; to sentence; to order
smooth (i.e. without problems)
old soldier; veteran; old hand
head; chief; merit; strong point; superiority; major
strange; unfamiliar; mysterious; suspicious
senior; veteran; old-timer
in unison; as one; united
internal conflict; family quarrel; domestic trouble
life or death; existence; destiny
downfall; ruin; collapse; destruction
just this side of; one step short of; on the brink
within; inside of; less than
wind direction; situation; way things are going; mood; temper
continuance; survival; persistence; retention; duration
(making, launching) concentrated attack (on, against)
shorthanded; short of hands; undermanned; insufficient (stock, money, etc.); in short supply; low
one's habitual practice; usual measure; old trick
dispersion; breakup; variance; dispersion
to cut up; to cleave; to spare (time, money, etc.); to use part of something; (arch.) to have a tattoo in the corner of one's eye
rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
being excessively cautious; (lit.) knocking on a strong stone bridge before crossing it
dropping; losing; missing item; something one forgot to write down; cleaning; removing; trap
(a feeling of) identification (with); sense of belonging
to speak one's mind; to be frank; to tell the truth
bad condition; poor condition; disorder; failure; rupture; breakdown (e.g. of negotiations)
scene; sight; scenario; setting
movements; bearing; deportment; carriage; behavior; behaviour
to take off one's hat to a person; to acknowledge another's superiority
brat; kid; urchin; preta; hungry ghost
to reject; to repulse; to repel; to bounce back; to counterattack; to strike back
back-facing; backwards; backward-looking; retrogressive; reactionary
to overwhelm (e.g. an opponent); to overpower; to overwhelm (someone with emotion); to move; to intimidate; to frighten