WORD CHUNKS 4

bruising contest fade into the tapestry of harbor sympathy be whipsawed by be harder to peg politically raise a flap of angry denials squelch rising prices compounding the fear in fan fears of climb out of its hole bend the logic of hurt someone's pocketbooks step out of one's silo reserve the right to discharge one's duties rebuff someone's efforts slow walk the issue quell one's distress mark a stunning reversal oust someone from one's perch cast the future fortunes of something in doubt spur outrage fend off a coup draw applause and cheers stall progress stiffen its border enforcement and efforts ride out the crisis prove no easy job take an ax to kick off a spectacle try one's hardest add to something's /someone's woes be buffeted by scandal couldn't have come at a worse time for someone/ something gird someone/something against attacks pre-empt attacks plunge someone into new turmoil mount a defiant and tearful defense cast aspersions on deliver a blistering encore come under strain ramp up the trade dispute push back against pressure stoke hopes take on the herculean task avoid a cliff edge scuttle a deal finesse one's position agree to fuzzy language play out against the backdrop of wonder aloud spare someone the indignity of fulfill a long-held dream someone's hope is fading with each passing day broaden the theme showcase divisions land with a thud on put a price tag on the economy sputtered rebuff someone's efforts close the ugly chapter in one's relations economic meltdown spill into public view provide grist for slow-walk stark reminder slate of directors culture of toxicity saturation coverage eroding freedom widening diplomatic dispute the latest salvo attrition rate escalating tensions precipitous downfall precipitous fall sobering indicator in its beginning stages freighted questions whipsaw events not uncommon fuzzy language hard-edge strategy

WORD CHUNKS 3

growing concerns
tantalizing target
growing emphasis
hands off approach
 raise an alarm
bear some similarity to
come under the purview of
blur the distinction between
strengthen ties signal
a major shift (away from)
vie for customers
 undercut efforts
defuse tensions
widen a divide
ratchet up pressure on
ease pressure on
undermine the success of
avoid friction
curb economic ties with
soften the demands
 build a coalition
tamp down someone's rage
harness the power of
stoke protests
comb through the debris
curtail someone's ability
not allow much room for
won plaudits
give more room to act
exact an economic cost
bring something to a halt
crush dissent
enter a new phase
be colored by (widespread dread)
deflect blame
slow to (barely) a trickle
revive the concerns
form the backbone of something
 quell dissent
 weather chaos and harness it to
 unrest has petered out
harness something to one's advantage
 fit the model of
 devote enormous energy and resources to countering
defy attempts
upend any assumptions
forge warmer ties
tough hurdle to clear
carve out a career
 one's edge begin to ebb
come to be likened in
prompt complaints
grasp the perils facing someone
reach a nadir
show little resolve
radiate an aura of (probity and authority)
burnish one's legacy
marriage foundered
 plunge someone into a maelstrom of conflicts
have little appetite for
express one's deep remorse
adopt a tougher line
flout the rules
draw the ire of someone
deal a stinging defeat to someone/s.t
begin a sea change
score a victory
tug at sb/st sense of self
fight with a vigor
grow into wider conversations
give a fresh push to
fight back tears
demand far outstrips supply
push prices to astronomical highs
tote a camera
cause a giant rift
 narrowly reject
galvanize a movement
break an impasse
take concrete steps
 shrug off the effects of
cloud the economic outlook
express dismay
be met with lackluster demand
continue to grind on
pony up money
the skies were rainless
restore calm
usher in a new era
hope gradually dwindles
 have a semblance of normality
root out dissent
give someone a measure of respect

it could threaten financial stability further afield
resolve the conflict
pursue a policy
sidestep the sanctions
build better ties
inject optimism into
prosperity remains elusive
 the ground swayed
restore the reputation
hit record high
get embroiled in
create a hubbub
spell trouble for
flags were lowered to half-staff
be shrouded in intrigue
put on a path toward prosperity
capture the mood
trace the roots of
beat its own record
slash budgets/subsidies
exert dominance
 break precedent
lift one's gaze from smartphone
lower tensions
skepticism persists
trigger the latest salvo
as the night wore on
express alarm
shroud in secrecy
lift one out of poverty
fuel resentment

a cloud of suspicion
with no signs of abating 
poorly obeyed laws
deteriorating environment for free speech
toothless criticism 
gravely concerned
publicity blitz
moribund state of affairs
an escape valve
diplomatic weapons
widely hailed successes
 grandest aspirations
ingrained flaws
negotiating table
major setback
huge defeat
phased steps 
market turmoil
successive waves of sanctions
unspeakable tragedy
reasonable grounds 
baseless allegations
heftiest sentence
a dearth of material
macabre record
fist pumping
 vastly preferable
grandly celebrated
 even by the standards of
for fear of reprisals
in a litany of (assaults)
this portrait of vulnerability
in the lead-up to
as a prelude to
 credit has been choked off
all but non-existent

WORD CHUNKS VERSION 2

mounting pressure
step up one's efforts
paid off handsomely
reap the benefits
buttonhole somebody
work the crowd
yank down posters
exploit one's grip on
remake one's image
offset one's (fearsome) reputation
quash a rally
suffer the consequences from
revert to one's old habits
fuel wild swings
hold a rally
ply one's trade
redouble efforts to
raise the risk of
fuel the protest
turn violent
commit violations/ manipulation/ corruption
draw widespread condemnation
be aware of one's responsibility
draw outrage
spur debate
reshape one's image
alter the narrative
reach a turning point
alter its (dysfunctional) trajectory
reset one's (troubled) relations with
praise someone conspicuously
follow the same path
change one's narrative
cast in turmoil
tour the world
lift (millions) out of poverty
extol one's achievements
hurtle toward
enter the inner sanctum
feel burned by
feel miffed by
raise suspicions of
surge into (office)
command a (huge) lead
use one's (enormous) reserves of (self-confidence and charisma)
stand in clumps
still have a way to go
be coy about
change one's image
bring something of an aura
see someone through a narrow lens
spar over
express opposition to
be fined for the infraction of
fine someone for the infraction of
toughen the legislation
challenge the notion
begin efforts to
scour the neighborhood
be only half in jest
tighten one's grip
ease someone's burdens
veer off course
settle the matter
dampen the theory
worsen the effects
captivate the world
engulf farms
wash out roads
vary widely
kill (public) debate
recover from a tainted image
hold in high esteem
lobby efforts
run in (elite) circles
land someone in jail
peddle influence in
(intended) as a bulwark against
suborn perjury
go (uncharacteristically) silent on
cultivate the sources
suffer setbacks
continue to pursue
cook up a scheme
plant a story/ stories in (the media)
pursue a new venture
disburse funds
embrace the idea of
threaten sanctions against
deem necessary
commit a flub
achieve a clean break
prompt concern
curb a protest
draw parallels to
inflame passions
shave the number of something/someone to ...
cross the hurdle
face a stricter path
slip from one's grasp
come a distant second in (election)
wield huge power
join one's side
maintain a slight edge
cruise to victory
show support and affection
relinquish one's seat in election
fill the vacancy
jockey for support
stage a protest
earn the endorsement of
mend relations with
fulfill the goal of
create a disorientating reality
compare favourably
fuel (public) outburst
reject assurances
restore confidence
restore faith
earn the trust back
damage one's credibility
deploy censors
relinquish one's duties
spur indignation
sound a positive note
pale next to (the tens of billions of dollars)
raise fears of
stir alarm
avert crisis
waive the need for
escape harm
crate pandemonium
break ranks
dispute the report
cast inadmissible ballots
twinkle briefly
give a veneer of
unleash a crackdown on
ramp up efforts
enshrine in the constitution
glimpse the future
join the ranks of
be no stranger to something
come close to achieving/verb-ing
espouse peaceful means
wage attacks against
worsen a divide with
ratchet up pressure on







a tainted election
the dust has hardly settled from something
a strong (national) following
one's guarded nature
expectations are soaring
part of the reason, ...
an underage union
income discrepancy
sluggish response
steep cost
porous lines
provincial sensitivity
(racially) tinged remarks
enormously influential
an outpouring of anger
a blistering attack
relations that have cooled markedly
raucous newspaper headlines
curt statement
dire scenario
kneecapping of democracy
fledgling democracy




in another unsubtle signal
with the whiff of (scandal)
with the veneer of (a democracy )
under the guise of
out of fear of
in the motion to
on a just-in-time basis
on heightened alert
at one remove/several removes

(so) thoroughly eviscerated

when it comes time to

Ultimate Compilation of Word Chunks

stir controversy
come crashing down
win upset victory
slide deeper into turmoil
calm tensions
reinvigorate efforts to
yield results
fuel a revival
strengthen one's resolve
cling to a hope
reverse the tide
brim with hope
wage a campaign (of)
reignite a debate
salvage the diplomatic process
exert efforts
shift away from
yielded good will
bridge the divide
smooth the way for something
open a rift with
fan tensions
balance the interests of
slash profits
turf out
hew to something, someone
impede progress
mark a big shift
reduce the frictions in
vent frustration with
command attention
erase oneself from the earth
feeling bruised
ditch one's devil-may-care disdain (for)
cold blooded calculation
tarnish one's image badly
fall afoul of
sit astride
cap a remarkable comeback
fuse conflicting themes
assuage concerns
stir a furor
wring out concessions
dodge a question
air grievances against
sow doubt
pitch an idea 
impugn the integrity 
cultivate a reputation 
muddy the issue 
wield an enormous influence
register with the public 
draw sympathy from 
escape the yoke of 
breed resentment 
rescind a law 
reflect the tenor of


earliest opportunity 
a sustained agreement
head-spinning twist
stinging rebuke
wrenching issue
yawning gulf between
mushrooming losses 
monumental task
Herculean focus 
a mix of bewilderment and outrage 
unspoken agreement 
continual reluctance 
a mushrooming scandal 
a well won race 
a wave of fury 
chunks of territory 
a searing acknowledgment 
thawed relations 
long-simmering (dispute) 
polarizing figure. 
markedly different 
highly debatable
painfully awkward 
deeply disenchanted
treacherous road 


... address some concerns 
have an added tinge of (shock) 
mill through one's mind 
spark a (storm of) controversy 
sow confusion
await the outcome of 
draw comparisons between 
strike a nerve 
walk back 
exercise caution and due diligence 
set off (a) debate 
ignite outrage (from) 
eschew the tradition of 
cause a kerfuffle 
dissect someone's approach/habit 
relieve anxiety 
give urgency to 
be the culprit behind 
find an (sympathetic) audience (among) 
bode well for 
mark one's own homework 
turn skeptical 
come at a (delicate) moment 
shave off the value of 
apply (similar) efforts to 
thwart one's efforts 
hide behind the claim of 
bear hallmarks of 
take pains to 
welcome every effort 
draw widespread support 
undergo a (complex) metamorphosis from 
fall to the side of 
fare badly 
be laced with 
flood streets 
borrow (heavily) from someone's blueprint 
establish a constellation of 
cut deals with 
plot a coup attempt 
deny involvement 
garner support 
amplify the effect 
stack the odds in one's favor 
subvert the plan 
foment a revolution 
shift gears 
propel someone's to victory 
bring some relief/ not bring any relief 
spoil the ballots 
mourn the dissolution of 
wage a fight 
influence that wanes
relations that thaws


in lurid terms 
on opposite sides of the Atlantic 
on (the) condition of anonymity 

13 Years Earthquake & Tsunami Reflections