to make war (on); to wage war (against); to compete (against); to struggle (against adversities, etc.); to fight
preparedness; readiness; mental attitude; frame of mind
ferocious; fierce; truculent; savage
to rush on; to attack; to swoop down on
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict
(a) weakness; shortcoming; failing; sore point
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
with a bump; with a clunk
to come untied; to come apart; to be softened; to be relaxed
to well up; to burst; to arise
thick voice; husky voice; guttural voice; voice with a thick accent
tide; current; sea water; opportunity; chance
match; game; bout; contest
to bring (someone) back home; to take (someone) back home
to call; to summon; to send for; to call together
start; commencement; beginning; initiation
opposite; opposition; versus; vs.; to (e.g. "winning a game five to three"); equal footing
judgement; judgment; refereeing; umpiring; referee; umpire
judgement; judgment; decision; adjudication; award; verdict
to step forward; to volunteer
hot (thing); passionate (feelings, etc.); ardent; hot (e.g. temper); zealous; enthusiastic; intense
sweet voice; seductive voice
intimate friend; close friend; bosom buddy; chum
unshapely; unsightly; clumsy; unpresentable; uncouth; awkward
idea; notion; sense (e.g. of duty); resignation; preparedness; observation and contemplation
to scoff; to laugh at; to make fun of; to ridicule; to jeer at
to succeed; to relieve; to take the place of; to substitute for; to be exchanged; to change (places with)
timid; weak-kneed; fainthearted; bearish (e.g. market)
to strike back at; to bite back; to turn on; to rise against; to oppose; to defy
audience; spectator; spectators
fireball; ball of fire; will-o'-the-wisp; jack-o'-lantern
gradually (progress into a state); in sequence; in order; in turn
outsider's perspective; as seen by an observer
astonishment; amazement; surprise; fright; shock
repetition; repeat; reiteration; repeatedly
indispensable; essential; requisite; required; compulsory; necessary
special training; intensive training; crash course
to pile up; to heap up; to stack up; to repeat many times over; to go through repeatedly; to accumulate
balloon (esp. small, toy variety); airship; blimp
dramatic (improvement); remarkable (difference); marked; (far) better; exceptional