(degree of) risk; riskiness; danger
goblin; apparition; monster; ghost; phantom; spectre
decision; settlement; confirmation; establishment
retention; maintenance; preservation
one's hand; name tag; nameplate; wallet-sized (photo)
connotation; comprehension; intension; inclusion; containment within
feature; trait; characteristic; peculiarity; distinction
prior; beforehand; in advance; before the fact; ex ante
heaven and earth; top and bottom
to bring down (an animal, opponent, etc.); to kill; to shoot dead; to shoot down
education; training; discipline
to sense; to perceive; to understand; to comprehend; to attain enlightenment
crawling on all fours; being on all fours; being on one's hands and knees
remarkably; markedly; rapidly; sound of breaking or creaking
to split; to tear; to burst; to be separated; to be divided
grotesque; bizarre; weird; grotesque (style)
to be fed up (with); to be tired (of); to be stumped; to be nonplussed; to wince; to shrink back
true character; true form; true colors; consciousness; one's senses
unclear; obscure; unknown; unidentified; ignorance; lack of wisdom
energy; energy; strength; energy source; energy resource; food energy
ace up one's sleeve; trump card; secret skills; secret; (arch.) left hand
proposition; thesis; task; problem; giving a title; naming
artificial; man-made; imitation; synthetic
to accept someone's challenge; to take up the gauntlet
certain; some kind of; some sort of; of sorts
opposition; rivalry; competition; antagonism
to bear; to stand; to support; to withstand; to be fit for; to be equal to
strong-minded; strong-willed; having great willpower
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
sentence-ending particle expressing doubt; sentence-ending particle expressing a rhetorical question
thin (of an object); pale; light; watery; thin; weak (taste, etc.); little (affection, etc.)
spontaneous discharge; sudden outburst; accidental gun discharge
to be gouged; to be hollowed; to become hollow
to break (into pieces); to be broken; to collapse; to crumble; to become less formal; to throw off reserve
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
barrier; protective wall; obstacle; hindrance; imaginary shield that gives one invincibility or immunity
incredible; unbelievable; terrific; impressive
putting one's life on the line; giving everything one has got; acting out of desperation