combat; battle; action; active service; actual fighting
to polish; to shine; to brush (e.g. teeth); to refine (e.g. a skill); to improve; to cultivate
psychological description
protagonist; main character; hero(ine) (of a story); head of household
to take the initiative; to forestall; to beat to the punch
rather; sooner; preferably
anyway; anyhow; at any rate; in any case
surely; certainly; no doubt; indeed
close (relationship, connection, etc.); intimate; near; close (together)
from the beginning; from the first; all along; of course
careful; elaborate; scrupulous
decisive blow; game-winning hit (e.g. in baseball)
as (much) as possible; as (much) as one can; wherever practicable; if possible
to pay attention; to be watchful
to endeavor (endeavour); to try; to strive; to make an effort; to exert oneself; to be diligent
wrong (guess or estimate); misdirected
protection; advocacy; support; to protect (e.g. rights, etc.); to advocate (e.g. free trade, etc.); to support
decoy (for hunting); stool; lure; decoy; stool pigeon
to apply (a rule); to be applicable; to come under (a category); to fulfill; to hold true
one move (in go, shogi, etc.); only way; only means; doing alone; doing single-handed
the last moment; the very end
let me humbly say; most humbly; with all due respect
to abandon; to give up on; to desert
groping (for); fumbling around (for); searching (for an answer, solution, etc.); trying to find
dark; dull; unsatisfactory; dissatisfying; unattractive; unappealing
snare; trap (for catching wild game, etc.); trap (i.e. ruse, subterfuge, etc.)
postponement; deferment; extension (of time)
have it your way; to hell with you!; get rooted!; bugger you!
via; through; by doing; by means of; using
what is it (that); the meaning of something; what something is about
chilly; unpleasantly cold
being absorbed in; losing oneself in; losing control of oneself
to stick into (of something with a sharp point); to prick; to pierce; to resonate emotionally; to move
decision; settlement; definition
to peel; to skin; to pare; to hull; to bare (e.g. fangs); to open wide (e.g. eyes)
to spout out; to spurt out; to sprout; to bud; to burst into laughter; to blow (smoke, etc.)
sharp pain; acute pain; intense pain
spurious article; forgery; counterfeit; imitation; sham
to abuse (verbally); to curse at; to shout abuse at; to speak ill of
comparatively; relatively; unexpectedly; unusually; considering; for one's ...
in itself; the thing itself; this itself; for its own sake; per se