(sound of an) explosion or detonation; roar (of a machine)
successive; consecutive; back-to-back; one after another
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
instant; moment; (split) second; (in a) flash; (in the) blink of an eye
to burst open; to split open; to be bursting with (e.g. youth, laughter, flavor); to bounce; to bound
in groups of twos and threes; in small groups
crushing (into pieces); smashing; cracking; breaking up
calmness; composure; coolness; serenity; presence of mind
moment; brief space of time
glaring at each other; confrontation; standoff; face-off
gap; space; break; interlude; chink (in one's armor, armour); chance
to look down (on); to condescend (to)
tottering; staggering; faltering; reeling
to retreat; to back off; to draw back; to step back; to shrink away
to stick (to); to cling (to); to stay (e.g. in the office)
collision; crash; running into; conflict; quarrel; clashing
finishing blow; coup de grâce
to ask after (someone's health); to visit; to attack; to strike; to meet with misfortune
steepness; steep place; harsh (look); sharp (tongue)
thin; skinny; delicate; fragile; feeble
sly; cunning; sneaky; crafty; unfair; dishonest
to tease; to make fun of; to poke fun at; to make a crack about; to chaff; to kid
nasty; mean; heartless; inconsiderate; selfish
to show mercy; to show sympathy; to have compassion; to be kind
from the bottom of one's heart; heartily; sincerely
cool (temperature, color, etc.); cool (i.e. calm and collected); cool (i.e. fashionable, attractive, etc.); course (of medical treatment); season (series) of a television program (usu. 13 installments over a 3-month period)
especially; particularly; surely; clearly; as if; as though
emotion; feeling; feelings; sentiment
to entrust (e.g. a task) to another; to leave to; to passively leave to someone else's facilities; to leave to take its natural course; to continue (something) in a natural fashion (without particular aim); to rely fully on one's (full strength, great ability, long time taken) to get something done
monologue; soliloquy; talking to oneself
to become; to appear like; to have a touch of; to look like
sympathy; agreement with; alignment; conformity; tuning
rivalry (between two equally strong sides); struggle for supremacy; competing (with); vying (with); contending (with); being an equal match (for)
seeing through (a trick, someone's mind, etc.)
conspicuously; noticeably; remarkably; especially; particularly
to advance on; to close in; to march on; to descend on (the enemy); to move towards; to surge forward (crowd, wave of nostalgia, wave, etc.)
to blow against; to spray (paint, etc.) (onto a surface)
throwing stone; sling stone; slingshot; pellet; pebble; small rock
to be in the firing line; to bear the brunt of (an attack, criticism, etc.); to face (e.g. questioning)
considerably; not a little; in no small numbers