ghastliness; dreadfulness; grimness; intimidation; menace; threat
as if it were about oneself
(not) even once; (not) ever
suddenly; all of a sudden; abruptly
lack of ability; inadequacy; (being) out of one's depth
dealing with (people, customers, complaints, etc.); receiving (callers, visitors, etc.); attending to; handling; serving
perfectly in sync; in step (dancing); on the same wavelength
to perform in tune with each other; to get along well; to be in perfect harmony; to make a perfect pair (team, etc.)
to become rusted together; to become rusted shut; to rust; to become (completely) rusty; to become rusty (of a skill or ability); to become less effective
total hours spent working
not holding on; not using the hands; letting go one's hold; lack of reserve (in expressing one's emotions); lack of restraint; openly (saying)
to live up to expectations; to meet expectations
let's see what you've got; show me what you've got
to surpass the rest (e.g. of a large group); to stand out from the crowd; to be the best by far
(earthenware) mortar (for grinding)
raising the curtain; opening (of an event); start of a season
mine (ours) for the taking; something under one's full control
waste land; wilderness; moor; field; plain
last days; the end; one's fate
to be clear (of a sight, sound, colour, etc.); to be bright; to be clear-headed; to be alert; to look upbeat; to be perky; to master (a skill)
bargaining; haggling; tactics; strategy
to knock (ideas) against each other; to present competing ideas; to have a lively exchange of ideas; to smash together; to crash into each other; to throw at each other
northern or southern lights; aurora borealis or australis
to be peevish; to sulk; to pout
purple lightning; flash; swordflash
appropriate; suitable; fitting; apt; proper; right
three dimensions; three dimensional; 3D; real world; IRL (in real life)
means of survival; means of escape; way out of a difficulty
game, set and match; end of the game; end of the match
tightrope walking; high-wire act; funambulism; treading a tightrope; walking on thin ice; pulling a risky balancing act
difficult situation; adverse circumstances; predicament; trouble; dilemma; distress
back and front; inside and outside; inside out (e.g. clothing); double-dealing; two faces (cf. two-faced); outward appearance and actual condition
to try to unsettle someone; to throw off balance
to outwit; to outsmart; to counterplot; to pierce something all the way through
to compare and contrast two alternatives; to weigh the relative merits of A and B; to weigh one's options; to try to have it both ways; to try to sit on two stools
(in Chinese mythology) beast which descends from the sky with a thunderbolt