1 population

2 people

1 to use as an excuse

2 on the pretext

3 excuse

4 pretext

1 wound

2 cut

1 to excuse sb

2 to exempt

3 to remove or dismiss from office

4 to avoid

5 to avert

6 to escape

7 to be prohibited

1 free (of charge)

1 (idiom) reluctant to speak about it

2 tight-lipped

1 not to be crushed (idiom)

2 to be determined to have one's revenge

1 voices unanimous in praise (idiom); with an extensive public reputation

1 to remove sth that could be used as a pretext (idiom)

1 words of a Buddha, heart of a snake (idiom); two-faced

2 malicious and duplicitous