scaffold; scaffolding; foothold; footing; foothold (e.g. in business); foundation
to ascend; to go up; to ascend (as a natural process, e.g. the Sun); to rise; to go to (the capital); to be promoted; to add up to
alone; unaided; away from home
to cut deep into; to cut one's way into (an enemy position); to rush on; to press someone hard (e.g. with questions); to get to the heart of (a matter)
to cut off; to cut up; to tear to pieces
fall; drop; descent; coming down
evacuation; withdrawal; revocation; repeal; retreat
preventing (someone) from leaving; confinement; keeping indoors; being stranded; grounding
threat; intimidation; menace
to pair with; to pair up; to pair off
to parry; to sidestep; to dodge
one-sided; unilateral; arbitrary
to take command; to give direction
counterattack; counteroffensive; counterblow
to turn; to shift; to alter; to distract
crisp; staccato; piquant; clear
not ... for nothing; not ... with nothing to show for it; worthwhile; no wonder ...
battle formation; military formation
commander; commanding officer; CO
discouragement; despondency; dejection; disappointment
to come off; to be removed; to disappear (of pain, a fever, etc.); to be caught; to be harvested; to be interpreted (as); to be taken (as)
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
to dominate; to prevail; to be superior to; to get ahead of; to get the upper hand
considerable; great; important; significant; a big deal
shackles; fetters; irons; bonds (e.g. family); ties; binding relationship
retreat; withdrawal; retirement
violent explosion; bursting
to draw a bow; to oppose; to defy; to disobey one's superiors
to shoot (arrow, bolt, dart)
several times; several degrees
exchange of blows; long rally
before one could; in no time at all; without a gap
to apply correspondingly; to correspond to; to be proportionate to; to conform to
vague; obscure; indistinct; hazy; ambiguous
new face; newcomer; rookie; modern humans (from Cro-Magnon man onwards)
reckless; daredevil; frantic; foolhardy
racing (of an engine); spinning one's wheels; running idle; fruitless effort; going nowhere; going round in circles
reckless; (at) random; haphazard; blind; sudden; abrupt
opposition; rebellion; rebounding; recoiling; rally (e.g. in stock prices); recovery
to exchange glances; to correspond; to counterbalance