to spoil someone's start; to kill someone's enthusiasm; to take the wind out of someone's sails
obstacle; impediment; hindrance; handicap; impairment; disability
to choose at one's own discretion; to choose when to do something; to estimate (the time for something)
extempore; impromptu; improvised; ad-lib; off-the-cuff; instant
mechanism used to lift an actor onto the stage (in kabuki)
ring; circle; hoop; wheel; circle (e.g. of friends)
restriction; restraint; binding; constraint
hanging in midair; suspended in midair; midair stunt; aerial stunt
to shoot (at); to attack; to defeat; to destroy
comprehension; consent; understanding; OK; roger (on two-way radio)
to be caught in a trap (snare, etc.); to fall for (a trick, ambush, etc.)
(suffering) damage; injury; harm
shot; charge; blow; punch; home run; try
(direct) hit; hitting the mark
creak; squeak; creaking; discord; strife; friction
one's post; one's position; one's station; one's round; one's beat; one's route
gazing steadily at; observing (a person) closely; maintain a watch over
to strain one's eyes; to look closely; to stare at
(a) little; (a) few; slight; only; just; merely
to boast of; to be proud of; to take pride in
one breath; time of one breath; pause; break; (doing in) one go; doing without stopping
to run through; to run past
to exceed (esp. figures: profits, unemployment rate, etc.); to surpass; to be more than; to be better than
expectation; assume will happen; forecast
heel (of foot, shoe, stocking, etc.)
opening inward (e.g. door, window)
to kick; to refuse; to reject; to stamp (on the ground); to firmly press one's feet (against something)
firm decision; decisive measure; resolute step; excellent decision
to check; to hold back; to keep at bay; to stop; to prevent; to stem
emergency measure; emergency procedures; first-aid treatment; stop-gap treatment; temporary repairs
charging (at the enemy) with a shout; rush; rushing (an activity); working at full speed; penetration; piercing
reinforcement; strengthening
Sirs; Mesdames; around (the time that, etc.); about
hammer; hopeless swimmer; complete beginner at swimming; someone who sinks like a stone
sound of footsteps; sense or sign that something is approaching
to raise; to lift; to hang up; to raise prices (artificially, deliberately)
getting mixed up in; getting embroiled in; involvement; entanglement; by-blow
to be broken; to break; to fall through; to come to nothing
consequently; as a result
there's no (other) way; cannot be helped; unavoidable; it's no use (doing); pointless; hopeless (person)
to envelop; to blanket; to cloak
pressure; stress; pressure (e.g. political); coercion; arm-twisting
thick; dense; rich (as in taste or content); crowded
to jar; to creak; to grate
counterattack; counteroffensive; counterblow