main spindle; main shaft; linchpin; pivot; principal axis; main axis
decisive battle; deciding match; play-off
steady; firm; solid; secure
and yet; even so; nonetheless; for all that
final; eventual; ultimate
one move (in go, shogi, etc.); only way; only means; doing alone; doing single-handed
nasty; mean; heartless; inconsiderate; selfish
to evaluate; to appraise; to comment on
house; residence; family; household; lineage; family name
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
victory or defeat; match; contest; game
to tie; to fasten; to wear (necktie, belt); to put on; to total; to sum; to be strict with
scheme; tactic; stratagem; trick
second lieutenant; sublieutenant; ensign
to stick; to paste; to stretch; to spread; to form (e.g. ice on a pond); to fill; to swell
to eat; to drink; to receive (e.g. a blow); to be on the receiving end (of something undesirable); to undergo (trouble)
to smash; to crush; to shut down; to put out of business; to wreck; to break; to butcher
earnest desire; eager hope; longing; yearning; hankering
immediately; at once; soon; before long; easily; readily
near; neighbourhood; nearly (e.g. "it took nearly one year"); close to; shortly; soon
to stretch around (e.g. a fence, dragnet, etc.); to lay out (e.g. a wiring system, network, etc.); to string up (e.g. an antenna, ship's rigging, etc.)
influential; prominent; strong; likely; plausible
mobile troops; mechanized unit; mechanised unit; naval task force
minute; detailed; careful; scrupulous; thorough
ambush; troops in ambush; unexpected opposition; unexpected obstacle
to assign; to allot; to allocate; to divide among; to distribute; to prorate
to use somebody's (argument, attack) against them
to be ready and waiting for; to be on the alert for
as was expected; just as one thought; sure enough; really; actually; ever
inexpensive; cheap; easy; simple
to bite at; to snap at; to nibble; to get one's teeth into (metaphorically); to get to grips with; to really get into
to swing; to wield (physically); to exercise (e.g. power, ability); to exhibit; to flourish; to prosper
apparently; appears to be
neighborhood; vicinity; environs; approaching
consists of; comprises; is made up of
interception; counter-attack
repulse; repelling (e.g. the enemy); driving back
atrocious; fiendish; brutal; villainous
destruction; annihilation; devastation; catastrophe
serious damage; injury or loss; heavy blow