or something; or something like that; or words to that effect; something or other
(the three) Baltic states; Baltic countries
advanced (developed) country; advanced nations
Soviet Union; Union of Soviet Socialist Republics; USSR
one's father; one's old man; middle-aged (or older) man; old man; one's boss; proprietor (of a restaurant, store, etc.)
independence; self-reliance; independence (e.g. of a nation); freedom; separation; isolation
beautiful woman; (a) beauty
smartly dressed; stylish; someone smartly dressed; to dress up; to be fashionable
generation; the world; the age
to study (in depth); to learn; to take lessons in
to decrease (in size or number); to diminish; to abate
inhabitant; resident; citizen; population
language of one's country; mother tongue; native language
speaker; narrator; speaker (of a language)
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; difficulty
to begin to appear; to begin to come in
being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.)
to place on (something); to give (someone) a ride; to give a lift; to load (luggage); to carry; to send out (on the airwaves, etc.); to deceive
to burn; to be roasted; to be heated; to be jealous; to be envious
loan; lending; favor; favour; creditor; method of lending
to bite into; to sink one's teeth into
to distribute; to hand out; to deliver; to allot; to allocate; to place (staff, soldiers, etc.)
pull tab; pull-tab; ring pull
to sever; to cut off; to suppress; to eradicate; to abstain (from); to give up
to serve (in a bowl, on a plate, etc.); to dish out; to pile up; to heap up; to administer (medicine, poison); to dose out; to put into (e.g. information in a report, meaning in a statement)
history of; experience of
nationality; citizenship; nationality (ship, airplane, etc.); registration; flag
stupid; foolish; idiotic; fool; idiot; blockhead
a long time ago; in those days
national border; provincial border
detached territory; enclave; exclave; scattered landholdings
continent; continental Asia (esp. mainland China); continental Europe