highest grade; finest quality; top class; superlative (degree)
encouragement; spurring (on); cheering (on)
to believe implicitly; to believe firmly; to believe entirely
glass (drinking vessel); tumbler; cups (suit)
cheers; bottoms-up; toast; drink (in honor or celebration of someone or something); drinking one's glass dry
to launch; to shoot up; (of waves) to dash; to wash up (ashore); to finish (e.g. a theater run, sumo tournament); to close
meeting; assembly; party; society; association; club
radiant smile; contented smile
lingering (usu. feeling, emotion, etc.); continuing (to); still (...)
to reward; to recompense; to repay; to retaliate; to get revenge
war or military record; score; military achievements; results
loss; defeat; counter for losses
having at one's mercy; trifling with; toying with; playing with; making a fool of; leading around by the nose
extremely; very; really; super; so
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
smelling of mud; smelling of earth; unrefined; unpolished; uncouth
when it comes to ...; as for ...
mudslinging contest; mudslinging match
rough-hewn; incomplete; unrefined; still in the process of being formed
natural; inborn; innate; inherent; characteristic
hard-fought win; winning through perseverance
to continue to do; to persist in doing
if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say
little by little; bit by bit; sparingly
juice; soft drink (usu. fruit-based); sweetened drink
to taste; to try (food or drink)
team competition; team game
mock cavalry battle; piggyback fight
poor (at); weak (in); not very good (at); not one's cup of tea; not one's favorite
to have more wins than losses; to lead an opponent (e.g. by two games); to be ahead (in wins); to take the lead (in points, goals, etc. during a match)
to cheer; to applaud; to jeer; to mock; to make fun of
circle; "correct"; "good"; *; _; period
proximity; nearness; being nearby; approaching; drawing near; coming close
to get in someone's pocket; to help oneself to someone's wallet; to curry favour (favor); to butter up; to get in close to one's opponent
defeat; loss; failing to live up to (one's name, looks, etc.); discount; loss (on a sale)
thorough; exhaustive; complete
(verbal) abuse; denunciation; disparagement; vilification; scathing criticism
that; the matter in question
to become clouded; to darken; to darken (of a face); to worsen; to deteriorate
war; fighting; fierce competition