defense; defence; protection
obligation; duty; charge; responsibility
to be disconnected; to get out of place; to miss the mark; to get it wrong (e.g. guess, expectation); to be removed; to be excluded
people; citizens; subjects; folk
halting (speech); faltering; stammering
indomitably; undauntedly; resolutely; determinedly
assignment (of a person to somewhere); attachment (of a person to another unit, organization, etc.)
important; momentous; essential; principal; major
human resources training; development of human resources; personnel training
kernel; core; nucleus; center; centre
to show contempt for; to look down upon; to have a low opinion of; to cause to fall; to make decline
statement; remark; observation; utterance; speech; proposal
something one finds questionable; something one finds fault with
be considered; be deemed; be thought to be
to talk back; to answer back; to retort; to say over; to repeat (what one has said)
quite; entirely; completely; as if; as though; just like
rock; boulder; crag; cliff; anchor
to talk; to speak; to tell; to explain; to speak (a language)
pivot; vital point; cornerstone; Japanese photinia
to compare; to make a comparison; to compete; to vie
nothing but; none other than
to impose; to visit upon; to inflict
sacred precincts; sanctuary; consecrated ground; issue that is regarded as being off-limits; matter that is not up for discussion
underhand grip; backhand grip (e.g. in tennis); unexpected twist; turning the tables (on an opponent)
inner thoughts; real intention; at heart; deep down; inner center (centre)
to smash; to crush; to shut down; to put out of business; to wreck; to break; to butcher
(outward) looks; features; face; countenance; expression
to be clever; to be quick-witted; to be precocious
dull (e.g. a knife); blunt; thickheaded; obtuse; dull (sound, color, etc.); dim (light)
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
sound argument; fair argument; just reasoning
iron wall; impregnable fortress; impregnable; invulnerable; unassailable
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext
spear; lance; javelin; lance; (arch.) jeering
to push out; to project; to stick out; to hand over (e.g. to the police)
year; age; years; past one's prime; old age
wick; marrow; core; heart; pistil (of a flower); stamen