boning (fish or meat); deboning; watering down (a plan, bill, etc.); dilution; taking the backbone out of; weakening
breaking off an engagement
backing; support; backer; shield that protects one's back
which can exist solely due to the presence of; whose existence is determined entirely by; which owes everything to
as many as one likes; as much as one likes; great many; plenty; almost (none); (not) much
to oust; to dethrone; to drive down (e.g. into a valley); to chase down; to capture (a castle); to seize (by driving out the garrison)
only natural; no wonder; as expected; of course; as it should be
mistake; error; fault; slip; blunder; omission
to have (someone) by the short hairs; to have something on (someone)
reins; bridle; control; the reins (on)
firm; strong; solid; stable
to catch and tie up; to apprehend; to entangle; to trap; to brush out (e.g. dust, fur, plaque); to extract
disaster; calamity; misfortune; trouble; woes
to scatter; to sprinkle; to spray; to lavish (money, charm, etc.)
vigilance; caution; alertness; precaution; being on guard
to get damaged; to get chipped; to be wounded; to get injured; to get hurt (reputation)
pride; boast; credit (to)
proof; evidence; sign; witnessing; testifying; testimony
to wound; to injure; to hurt someone's feelings (pride, etc.); to damage; to chip
unworthy; unbecoming; improper
beyond this point; ahead; from now on; after this; in the future
to pass; to pass on; to give (something) a miss; to cut it out; to knock off (for the day); to let the matter drop
always; without exception; necessarily; certainly; without fail; positively
to bring down (an animal, opponent, etc.); to kill; to shoot dead; to shoot down
to glare at each other; to confront each other
not budging an inch; to stand one's ground
to be visible to; to be seen by; to meet one's eyes
blind spot (e.g. of a driver); dead angle; dead ground; dead space
overhead; above one's head; high in the sky
beforehand; in advance; ahead of time; previously
pieces; scraps; disconnected
to sit down hard; to sink down to the floor
logical connection; chain of reasoning; coherence; blood vessel
reluctant; unwilling; involuntary; unintentional; unintended; unlooked-for
recuperation; medical treatment
to jump in; to leap in; to plunge into; to burst in; to barge in
in brief; to put it succinctly