stiff and slackless; tense without any looseness; cling tightly; pulled or stretched as far as possible; creaking of a door or oar
this; our; the ... in question; right; justice; fairness
chitter; chatter; giggle; screeching; squealing
independence; self-reliance; independence (e.g. of a nation); freedom; separation; isolation
contest decided by a single round (bout); contest decided by a single roll of dice; one-shot game (contest); make-or-break game
by choice; of one's own free will; on one's own initiative; off one's own bat
to unite; to join; to do together; to confuse with
strong-willed; strong of heart
if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say
scary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
class; heading; group; category
pride; self-confidence; thinking highly of oneself; being proud of one's abilities or achievements
judging from; on the basis of; from the point of view of
trivial; not amounting to much
confident; assured; self-assured; bullish (e.g. market)
sight; attraction; spectacle; something worth seeing
gradually (progress into a state); in sequence; in order; in turn
to drag on; to be delayed
to get close; to cuddle close together; to nestle close to; to snuggle up to
opposite side; bottom; rear; back; lining; inside; in the shadows
to enquire of someone about something (inquire); to question; to interrogate; to grill (someone about a matter); to question in detail
besides; in addition; also; moreover
to hang on to; to hang from; to hound; to keep after (someone); to grab the front of the opponent's mawashi, place one's head against their chest, and lower one's hips
declaration of war; proclamation of war
simply; merely; only; solely
nice; likeable; desirable
other intention; hidden purpose; ulterior motive; ill will; malice
elegant; refined; polished; high-quality goods; first-class article
to shrink back; to wince; to flinch; to recoil
do-or-die resistance; resistance to the bitter end
route; path; channel (e.g. sales, distribution)
to meet; to encounter; to see; to have an accident; to have a bad experience
silence (not speaking); muteness
mental preparedness; being braced for; being steeled for
I have nothing to do with it
falling lightly (e.g. snow, petals, confetti); fluttering; flickering; twinkling; appearing and disappearing; catching glimpses
(showing) no reaction; non-reaction; straight face
before; previously; ahead; Pardon me for leaving (before you)