to gather momentum; to gather strength; (for a trend) to reach a peak
small number; few; minority
maintaining the status quo
repulse; repelling (e.g. the enemy); driving back
stimulus; impetus; incentive; encouragement; motivation; provocation
to keep; to preserve; to hold; to last; to endure; to keep well (food)
claim; insistence; assertion; advocacy; emphasis; contention
survival; survivor; relic
thinking; thought; idea; notion; intention; plan
understanding; comprehension; appreciation; sympathy
to apply for; to make an application; to propose (marriage); to offer (mediation); to make an overture (of peace); to challenge
two persons; two people; pair; couple
close friend; bosom friend; buddy; crony; chum
to be dying; to be about to die; to be close to death
true feelings; real intention; one's heart; one's right mind; one's senses; one's conscience
how; in what way; how about
to send out; to forward; to show (a person) out
to become known; to come to light; to be known; to be understood; to clearly not amount to much; to be insignificant
(confronting a problem, etc.) head-on; directly; outright; (lit.) from the front
standing facing each other (e.g. mountains, buildings); standing opposite each other; confrontation; squaring off against (adversaries, armies, forces); standing off against
equal (in ability); even; evenly matched; well-matched; on par (with)
victory; triumph; conquest; success; win
to come to an end; to close the curtain
without change; as is; just like; extremely similar; immediately; just after
somewhere; anywhere; in some respects
to disappear; to vanish; to go out (of a fire, light, etc.); to die; to fade (of a feeling, impression, etc.); to vanish (e.g. of hope); to go away (e.g. of a smell, itchiness, sleepiness)
to break; to be broken; to be folded; to give in; to back down; to turn (a corner)
may; might; perhaps; may be; possibly
decisive battle; deciding match; play-off
to fight to the bitter end
to lose heart; to lose motivation
withdrawal; secession; separation; breakaway
-ical; -ive; -like; -ish; (something) like; along the lines of
severe; strict; hard (to do); difficult; intense (e.g. cold); harsh (weather)
beginning; start; outset; at first; at the beginning; initially
readiness; preparedness; resolution; resignation
to be decided; to be settled; to be unchanging; to be the same (as always); to be a fixed rule; to be destined; to be well executed (of a manoeuvre in a sport, game, etc.)
fear; horror; anxiety; concern; uneasiness; reverence
conquest (of a difficulty, illness, handicap, etc.); overcoming; bringing under control; subjugation; victory over
to fight against; to oppose; to face
to move (house); to transfer (department); to change the target of interest or concern; to elapse (passage of time); to be permeated by a colour or scent; to be infected