to be confused; to be bewildered; to be taken aback
knowingly or unknowingly; with or without someone's knowledge
scale; scope; plan; structure
present stage; current phase; current rank; present grade
(an) unknown; unknown number; variable; unknown quantity; not yet known
nonchalantly; calmly; as if nothing happened
decision; settlement; confirmation; establishment
to be helpful; to be useful
hit; success; guess; prediction; affability; friendliness; sensation
real feeling; actual feeling; to actually feel; to have a real feeling (that ...); to experience personally
to benefit; to profit; to gain; to reap rewards
if it's going to be that way, then ...; if given the choice; if possible; if anything
to hold between (e.g. one's fingers, chopsticks); to grip (from both sides); to put between; to sandwich between; to catch (e.g. a finger in a door); to trap; to insert (e.g. a break into proceedings)
pride; dignity; self-worth
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
maximum; to the maximum degree; to the full; at a maximum
to make (the best) use of; to put to good use; to leverage (skills, attributes, experience, etc.); to restore (a deleted passage; in proofreading)
judging from; on the basis of; from the point of view of
creakingly; squeakingly; tightly (squeezing, pressing, etc.); (drinking) in one go
to stare fixedly at; to fix one's gaze on; to make sure of; to set one's eyes on (e.g. the future); to focus on
if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle
scenery; scene; landscape
to spin vigorously; to wave around (e.g. sword, bat)
foundation; base; basis; from the beginning; from the outset; by nature
dwindling; declining; diminishing; tapering (to a point)
(not) very; (not) much; too much; excessively; overly
to brace one's legs; to stand firm; to plant one's feet (firmly on the ground); to hold out; to persist; to make an effort
pardon; forgiveness; tolerance; leniency; mercy; going easy (on someone)
scolding; rebuke; reprimand; fierce encouragement; exhorting
fact; truth; reality; in fact; actually
lifespan; life; lifetime; life (of a battery, lightbulb, etc.); service life; end of an object's (useful) life
environment; surroundings; circumstances
severe; harsh; hard; cruel; rigorous
fee paid to performing artists, etc.; appearance fee
to deal with (a person); to treat; to deal with (a problem); to handle; to operate (e.g. a machine); to handle; to deal in
passing on to the next life; death; giving up a struggle; submission; being at one's wits' end; being flummoxed
tackling (to the ground); tackle (in rugby, hockey, etc.); tackle (position in American football); fishing tackle
to pin down; to knock down; to push (and hold) someone down (esp. with sexual connotations)
speaking of ...; as for ...