soft; tender; gentle; mild; informal; light
to break the ice; to broach a subject; to bring up a topic
how; in what way; by what means
considerably; fairly; quite
disadvantage; handicap; unfavorable position
small quantity; small amount; narrowmindedness
adjustment; regulation; coordination; reconciliation; tuning; fixing
without; unacceptable; not alright; unsatisfactory
dot; spot; mark (in an exam, etc.); grade; point (in a game); score; point (in geometry)
to rely on; to depend on; to count on; to turn to (for help)
worship; adoration; admiration; cult
structure; construction; makeup; framework; organization; pattern
crowd of people; great number of people; in great numbers
overthrow; defeat; bringing down; knockdown
to throw down; to bring down; to kill; to defeat; to overthrow; to trip up
while it may be true that; just because; nevertheless; not necessarily
suicidal act; self-destroying action; suicidal action
among (other things); especially; particularly; inter alia; above all (else)
direct control; direct supervision
to allow; to enable; to make possible; to make feasible; to permit
willingness (e.g. to do something); eagerness; motivation; inspiration; determination; high aspirations
low-life; sleazebag; boor; person of humble rank; humble person; peasant
first-person plural (or singular); second or third person plural (implies speaker is of higher status than those referred to)
to make a display of; to show off; to flaunt
to be needed; to be wanted
to turn away (one's eyes, face, etc.); to avert; to displease; to annoy; to miss (the target, ball, etc.)
as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
viewing optimistically; thinking optimistically; taking an optimistic view; looking on the bright side
certain; sure; doubtless; I have no doubt; You can depend on it; It's a safe bet
(game pieces, soldiers, etc.) under one's control
to lose one's cool; to blow one's top; to flip one's lid; to get angry
thoroughly; completely; severely; harshly; (arch.) scattered; (arch.) disconnected
looking on (somebody) as hostile
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
to launch oneself upon; to make one's debut
lack of policy; having no measures; lacking means
to paw (at) the ground; to struggle (using one's arms and legs); to flounder; to struggle (to escape an adverse situation); to strive
ordinary person; average person; man in the street; everyman; (a) nobody
(if) by some chance; by some possibility; in the unlikely event that; (unlikely event of) emergency; the worst(-case scenario)
chance (of success); odds