being very active; being very useful; playing a very active part; making a spectacular showing; great efforts; splendid work
perhaps; maybe; perchance; by some chance; by any chance
decisive defeat; rout; thrashing; losing big
to show signs of ...; to have the appearance of ...
prediction; prophecy; prognostication
teaching; instruction; teachings; precept; lesson; doctrine
making rapid progress; making great advances; rush; dash; onslaught
to win fame; to be widely-known; to be well known; to make a name for oneself
to win through (e.g. to the next round); to win game after game; to achieve a final victory; to fight to the end and win; to come out on top
to excel at; to be proficient at; to grow old; to ripen; to rise high (e.g. the sun)
one or two; a few; small number
to turn one's hand to; to reach out one's hand; to get involved in; to make a move on; to strike; to beat
tip-top; top; top-drawer; best; foremost; elite
spoiled; spoilt; ruined; loss of face
genuine article; real thing; real deal
to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
to be born and raised (in); to be born and brought up; to be born and bred
home (of something); place famous for its ...; place of origin; birthplace; morning session; last session in the morning
essential; important; crucial; vital; main
frightening (of the future); worrying; scary; ominous; portentous
intensiveness; collecting; summarizing; putting together
in the end; at the end of the day
to spit out; to eject; to dump
to have much trouble; to have a hard time; to not know how to handle
to paint; to plaster; to lacquer; to varnish; to spread; to smear
salt; common salt; hardship; toil; saltiness; cold
loser; defeated person; the defeated
to examine someone's expression
to gain knowledge; to build up one's knowledge
experience; being accustomed (to something); poise in a critical situation
dull (e.g. a knife); blunt; thickheaded; obtuse; dull (sound, color, etc.); dim (light)
this year; this fiscal year; this school year
clap (sound of wooden clappers); chop vigorously; slight movement (e.g. poke, small bird alighting); the end; originally end of a play, marked by clap of clappers; dot (esp. typographical)
all; whole; entire; complete (set); in total
to loiter; to putter; to prowl; to wander about; to roam about; to knock around
different person; another person; someone else; changed man
just like; (virtually) no different from; (almost) the same as; as good as (e.g. dead, settled)
to force; to compel; to coerce; to press; to impose
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest
conspicuously; noticeably; remarkably; especially; particularly
towards; against; regarding; in contrast with
end of a match; end of a game
tender; kind; gentle; graceful; affectionate; amiable