distortion; stretch; strained interpretation; technicality; casuistry; sophistry
rehash; (boring) rerun; second brew of tea
(examination) failure; rejection; disqualification
to carry (a child) on one's back; to piggyback; (arch.) to take on (a job, responsibility, etc.)
speed; velocity; pace; velocity
to drain; to flow (unobstructed); to sell well; to be in good demand; to exit the stage; to remove (a prop) from the stage
regarding as important; attaching importance to; taking a serious view of; putting emphasis on
belligerence; fighting spirit
quick; prompt; without delay; simple; easy; effortless
to lead; to spearhead (a group); to command (troops)
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
circumference; outskirts; environs; (computer) peripheral
simmer; bubble out; flow out
fighting spirit; (will to) fight
to get carried away; to become over-excited; to push one's luck; to push a good thing too far
close contest; close match; close game; close combat
the big two...; two major...; two main...
to compete with; to argue with; to quarrel
way to go!; attaboy!; hear, hear!
to pull apart; to separate; to have a lead over; to pull ahead of; to outdistance
(sound of a) gunshot; (gun) report
to pass (a car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to outdistance
to be hot on a person's heels
to correct; to touch up; to smarten up; to put one's hand in (e.g. pocket)
(yarn) count; nth place (in a race); nth position (in a starting lineup); nth rank (in a battle formation); castle guard; second-place horse
to run off; to break into a run; to start running
opportunity; chance; trigger; cause
obstinate; stubborn; mulish; die-hard; bigoted
to lose one's temper; to lose patience; to have enough; to be exasperated; to become irritated; to get fed up
what; how; what (a) ...!; how ...!; surprisingly; to my amazement
companion; company; tritagonist
slapping the opponent with the open hand
against the rules; breaking etiquette; illegal
to burst into tears; to burst out crying; to begin to cry; to be moved to tears
anonymity; using an assumed name
anxiously; impatiently; worriedly; fretting; getting worked up
weeping for joy; crying with happiness
romance; love story; love affair; romantic relationship; romance