opening (in a game of go, chess, etc.); early stages; initial phase; outset
useless; worthless; half-man (esp. upper body); (arch.) half day (e.g. when working)
trick; trap; stratagem; intraoperative; during surgery
palm (of one's hand); skill; (in one's) grip; (under one's) control; one's (concealed) intentions; one's cards
to gain knowledge; to be illuminated; enlightening; informative; illuminating
to lead (someone) by the nose; to twist (someone) around one's little finger
ugly; unsightly; hideous; mean; repulsive; disgraceful
to mistake (A for B); to misread
stickiness; viscosity; glutinosity
curiously enough; oddly enough; to the point of being mysterious; to the extent of being strange
to defy accepted norms; to go off the rails; to be eccentric
to be flurried; to be confused; to lose one's head
not yet known; unknown; strange
inscrutable; incomprehensible
gazing steadily at; observing (a person) closely; maintain a watch over
weird; strange; mysterious
at a stroke; with a single swoop
misfortunes never come singly; when it rains, it pours; adding insult to injury
ought to do; have to do; must do; feel obliged to
to be contrary (to); to go against; to infringe; to violate; to disobey (an order, teachings, etc.); to defy
argument; discussion; dispute; controversy
in good condition; in fine shape; glib; slick; harmonious; melodious
course (of events); development; progress; market order; order without limit
hurriedly; hurry-scurry; helter-skelter
dramatic decrease; sharp drop; sudden fall
to cling to ... in tears; to beg ... in tears; to appeal; to throw oneself on someone's mercy
meow; miaow; cat; sexual intercourse; making out
my sympathies; that's too bad; my condolences
estrangement; alienation; neglecting to stay in contact
a little bit; a little while
starting in advance; starting first; going first; starting (in team sports)
going the whole distance; pitching a whole game
in tatters; in pieces; wiped out
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
to be imminent; to be impending; to be pressing; to be urgent
to carry up; to bring up; to lift up; to elevate (someone) to a high position; to convince someone to accept a post (esp. through flattery)
to assemble everything together; to do something as a group
human-interest article; city news; local news; police news
United States men's Olympic basketball team
ignominious defeat; crushing failure; utterly beaten; overwhelming defeat
one's home country; one's homeland