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