Vocabulary

• take down: To capture physically
• at war: Engaged in a war; fighting
• in check: Under control; restrained.
• crack down: To act forcefully in order to reduce crime, etc.
• in the west: Located in or towards the west.
• instead of: When one thing is replaced by another
• play on: To exploit or take advantage of something, such as someone's emotions or weaknesses.
• in exchange for: Given or done as an equivalent or substitute for.
• to let: Indicates that a property is available for rent.
• at the same time: Simultaneously; at the identical moment.
• same time: Occurring simultaneously or at the same point in time.
• in the middle of: In the central part or point of something.
• back down: To admit you were wrong; stop claiming
• as useful: Equally useful; to the same degree of usefulness.
• from power: To lose control or position of authority.
• side against: To support one party in opposition to another.
• cracking down: To act forcefully in order to reduce crime, etc.
• hand over: To give into the possession or control of another
• to hand: To give or pass something to someone using your hand.
• have to: Must do
• in charge: To be responsible for
• in line with: In agreement with; conforming to.
• playing second fiddle: Having a subordinate or less important role than another.
• on the ground: Located on the surface of the earth.
• no matter: Regardless of; it does not matter.
• pattern: Model to follow in making or doing something
• crisis: Unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
• force: Group of persons trained for military action; army
• pressure: Anxiety caused by difficult problems
• prime: To get a person ready for; prepare someone
• conventional: Following the common attitudes and practices
• brutal: Extremely violent or mean
• military: Army or armed forces
• deal: To cope with something - usually troubles
• regime: A system of management; a form of government
• democracy: System of government in which everyone is equal
• charge: To run quickly toward someone to attack them
• security: Department in a company in charge of protection
• challenge: An activity you wish to try that may be hard to do
• responsible: Being the cause of something that has occurred
• democratic: (Of government) giving the people power, a vote
• lead: Wire for electricity, computer, etc.; cable
• break: To create a new record e.g. running the 100m dash
• fortune: What might happen to you in the future
• civil: Of citizens of a country; not military, criminal
• gain: To increase in something, such as weight
• revolution: When a group overthrows an existing government
• leave: To go away from; depart
• command: To be able to see far from a certain location
• strengthen: To make something stronger
• place: To put someone in a particular type of situation
• council: Group chosen to make decisions about something
• ongoing: Continuing to exist or be in progress
• control: A device designed to operate a machine
• promise: To say you will certainly do something
• civilian: Ordinary person who is not in the army
• continue: To do something without stopping, or after pausing
• act: To behave in a certain way
• support: To give assistance or advice to someone
• minister: An official who heads a government department
• government: Group of people and system that rule a nation
• middle: Place that is halfway between two things
• successful: Having the desired effect or result
• turn: To become (a particular age)
• rule: Something that is normal and usually happens
• trust: To expect confidently
• coup: Successful taking over of a thing; sudden success
• make: To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
• rebellion: Act of conflicting with someone in authority
• regional: Of a particular area, not the whole of a country
• colonel: Person with senior rank in an army or air force
• officer: Person of high position in an organization
• transitional: Regarding changes in state, movement, place etc.
• arab: Citizen of an Arabic speaking nation
• statesman: A respected leader in (international) politics