satisfying; pleasing; gratifying
imitation; copy; make-believe; doing something in a way that only superficially resembles the real thing
stinging; smarting; on edge; nervous; ripping; peeling
thoroughness; completeness; consistency; thorough enforcement; seeing to it that a policy, etc. is carried out without exception
object of romantic interest
sublimation; sublimating (an emotion, impulse, etc.); channelling; diverting
unselfish; selfless; disinterested
for a while; for some time; for a period
long; drawn-out; very long
extremely important; essential; vital; crucial
uncharacteristic; unbefitting; unworthy (of)
to level (earth); to cut through (a mountain); to split (the opposition); to break (strike)
stretch; tension; resilience; springiness; will-power; pluck
measure; step; countermeasure; counterplan; countermove; strategy
worst; worst-case (scenario)
poor-quality; shoddy; unskillful; inexpert; unlucky
indicates supposition; if ... then; when; (typically after someone's name) indicates exasperation
more than most people; more than other people; compared with other people; more than others
comprehensive; composite; all-embracing
to temper thoroughly; to train well
wolf (Canis lupus); wolf in sheep's clothing; womanizer
hero; heroine; Eroica Symphony (Beethoven, 1804); Heroic Polonaise (Chopin)
protagonist; main character; hero(ine) (of a story); head of household
evil; wickedness; (role of) the villain (in theatre, etc.); the bad guy
to take an aggressive position; to stir up trouble
(a) touch of; tinge of; wreath (e.g. of smoke); one stroke; one brush
to challenge (esp. in a lawsuit); to take on an opponent (in negotiations, contest, etc.)
to light (a candle, lamp, etc.); to turn on (a light)
to look displeased; to frown; to scowl; to look grave; to look serious
quantification; expressing in numerical form; conversion to numerical form
to compete; to contend; to vie; to contest
with one's own body; by one's own action; through one's own experience; firsthand
to tower above the rest; to be by far the best; to be prominent; to be outstanding; to be a cut above
to extol; to sing the praises of; to celebrate; to declare; to stipulate; to express
to be inferior to; to be less good at; to fall behind
to go wrong; to go awry; to go off track; to go out of whack
crafty; vicious; unscrupulous; sharp
all you have to do is; just; that's all
stubborn; dogged; persistent; tough; sturdy; hardy
fort; fortress; stronghold; fortification
wooden building blocks; wooden bricks; playing with building blocks; piled timber; piling up wood