to snarl (at each other); to growl (angrily); to quarrel; to fight; to argue
futility; waste; uselessness; pointlessness; idleness
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
academic year; school year; year in school; grade in school
superior; excellent; brilliant; outstanding
examination; exam; test; trial; experiment; test
particularly; especially; in particular; expressly
model; (good) example; exemplar; paragon
close (e.g. in terms of relationship); intimate
magical powers; supernatural powers; spell; charm
school record; scholastic performance
as a matter of fact; by the way; to tell you the truth; to be honest; frankly; actually
top; top position; senior management; senior bureaucrat; home page (of a website)
it is assuredly (that) ...; can say with confidence that it is ...
commencing with; including
owner; proprietor; possessor (e.g. of talent, beauty, etc.)
motor nerve; reflexes; athletic ability; motor coordination
to be better (than); to be superior; to surpass; to excel; to be excellent
rumbling (of thunder, one's stomach, etc.); grumbling; rolling (of something large and heavy); tumbling; all over the place; everywhere; idly
the front; honest; upright; decent
show (of power, ability, etc.); exhibition; demonstration; display; manifestation
almost; nearly; for the most part; roughly; approximately; about
true; real; genuine; proper; utter
opponent; rival; adversary; menace; danger; threat
classmate; friend in the same class
to hold back (someone) from achieving success; to stand in the way of; to sabotage
maximum preference; maximum priority; priority handling
for example; for instance; e.g.
opposition; rivalry; competition; antagonism
in spite of; despite; although; nonetheless; nevertheless; but
to poison (e.g. food, drink); to administer poison
appearing one after another; cropping up one after another; occurring in succession
abstention (from voting); renunciation (of a right); withdrawal (from a contest)
to get stuck with (some job); to end up with (something unpleasant)
isn't it?; let's ...; why don't we ...; how about we ...
companion; fellow; group; company; member of the same category (family, class)
to persevere; to persist; to insist that; to stick to (one's opinion); to remain in a place; to stick to one's post
be (that) as it may; having said that
iron (Fe); steel; iron (will, discipline, lady, etc.); railway; railway enthusiast
popularity; favorable reputation; high esteem; respect