bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
to go to the top; to climb to the top; to ascend to the top; to be engrossed in; to be very enthusiastic about; to be infatuated with
ordinary; common; free of charge; free; unaffected; as is
to be talented; to be able
only; just; merely; as much as; to the extent of; enough to
muscle-brain; meathead; hot-blooded idiot; person who charges in before thinking
it seems that ...; it appears that ...; is like ...; is similar to ...
victory; triumph; win; conquest; success
to get; to earn; to understand; to comprehend; to receive something undesirable (e.g. a punishment); to get (ill)
to carry on one's back; to be burdened with; to take responsibility for; to have (something) in the background; to be in front (of something); to be conceited
to weigh (one thing against another); to compare (the relative merits of two options); (lit.) to weigh (something) on scales; to try to have it both ways; to play a double game; to have two strings to one's bow
accurate; correct; precise; exact
judgment; judgement; divination; judgement
to make a decision; to draw a conclusion; to give a judgement; to hand down a verdict; to let go down; to lower; to do oneself
human being; human; person; character (of a person)
that is to say; that is; in short; in brief; clogging; obstruction; shrinkage
high; tall; expensive; high-priced; high (level); above average (in degree, quality, etc.)
purposely (of something needless, unexpected or seemingly counterproductive, etc.); daringly (doing something); not necessarily; not particularly; (arch.) definitely not
to lose; to be defeated; to give in (to); to yield; to be inferior (to); to be second (to)
called; named; as many as; as much as; all ...; every single ...
thinking; thought; idea; notion; intention; plan
and so; therefore; for that reason
rivalry (between two equally strong sides); struggle for supremacy; competing (with); vying (with); contending (with); being an equal match (for)
in any case; at any rate; anyhow; anyway; as you know; for you see
on purpose; deliberately; intentionally
so; therefore; accordingly; like I said; I told you already
year; age; years; past one's prime; old age
upper level; upper grade; high rank; advanced level; senior level; upper class
defense; defence; safeguard; protection
nothing; naught; nought; un-; non-
aria; singing; chanting; reciting (e.g. a spell)
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); still; all the same; even ... (e.g. "even a genius")
large; big; great; prominent; -sized; as big as; university
hero; heroine; Eroica Symphony (Beethoven, 1804); Heroic Polonaise (Chopin)
no!; no no!; no, not at all
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
record; document; minutes; record (e.g. in sports); setting (a record); recording (a record high, etc.)
to tear; to rip; to break through (cordon, opponent's defense, etc.); to breach; to defeat; to beat; to break (e.g. silence)
to finish; to stop; to close (a business, etc.); to close down; to put away; to put back
certain; sure; no doubt; reliable; dependable
violent; furious; extreme; intense; fervent; vehement