repeated blows; striking repeatedly; barrage; consecutive hits (e.g. boxing, baseball)
punching bag (boxing); training bag; sandbag
painful; difficult; distressing; (psychologically) difficult; straitened (circumstances); tight (financial situation)
to gasp; to pant; to breathe hard; to suffer; to struggle
(around the) neck; nape; collar (at the front)
to loosen; to slacken; to relax (attention, efforts, etc.); to let down (one's guard); to relax (a rule); to ease (e.g. restrictions)
barely; narrowly; only just; with difficulty
to squeeze out; to wring out
cool-headed; level-headed; hard-headed
to fill (with); to be filled with; to express (an emotion); to project (sadness, joy, etc.); to wear (e.g. a smile)
(one's) superior; (one's) boss; the higher-ups
confrontation; to face; to confront; to encounter
exactly; surely; right then; just then; just (about to); on the verge (of doing or happening)
frank; candid; straightforward; openhearted; direct; outspoken
cowardly; craven; unfair; mean; sneaky
unhappiness; sorrow; misfortune; death (usu. of a relative); bereavement
particular; special; exceptional; particularly; especially; exceptionally
otherwise; or else; if not
unable to escape criticism; worthy of censure
to take advantage of; to impose on; to make an entry (in an account book)
weak person; the weak; vulnerable person; disadvantaged person
the past; bygone days; one's past (that one would prefer remained secret); past (tense); preterit; previous life
sympathy; compassion; pity
to say; to utter; to declare; to name; to call
to raise (esp. overhead); to brandish (e.g. sword); to flourish; to wield (e.g. power, authority); to proclaim one's principles
shame; embarrassment; disgrace
something used to cover the eyes; blindfold; blinder; concealing one's home such that the interior cannot be seen from outside
net weight; useful part; actual content; real; effective
to shake one's head (in denial)
out-of-place; inappropriate; sticking out like a sore thumb
giving and taking; exchange (of letters); arguing back and forth; (conversational) exchange
condition; term; requirement; qualification; prerequisite
along the road; along the way
details; particulars; longitude and latitude; warp and weft; warp and woof
to borrow; to have a loan; to rent; to hire
to cramp up; to tighten; to be insistent; to persist (in one's opinion); to act tough; to bluff; to prop up (e.g. with a post)
trade; buying and selling; trafficking (e.g. of humans, arms, drugs); dealing
dubious tale; cock-and-bull story; questionable information; taking care not to be fooled
to laugh away; to laugh off
the ways of the world; human nature