foul play (sport); breaking the rules; infringement; irregularity
to wager; to bet; to risk; to stake; to gamble
to muster (e.g. one's courage); to call forth; to rouse up; to be enlivened; to be invigorated
form (as opposed to substance); formality; method; system; format; mode
experimental; provisional
magnification; leverage; amplification; competitiveness rating (e.g. for university entrance); applicant-to-acceptance ratio
meteor; shooting star; falling star
most likely contender; prime candidate; top prospect; leading candidate
valid; proper; right; appropriate; reasonable
influential; prominent; strong; likely; plausible
lukewarm; tepid; disagreeably warm (e.g. bath)
to compete; to contend; to vie; to contest
use; adoption; acceptance; appointment; employment; engagement
disadvantage; handicap; unfavorable position
acknowledged; accepted; agreed
to straddle; to sit astride; to mount; to extend over; to spread over; to span
I'm afraid to say; I'm sorry to say; unfortunately
what's the matter?; what's wrong?
Kerry (Ireland); Kelley; Kerrey
mode of life; ecology; (animal) territory
unpleasant; disgusting; loathsome; shameful; scandalous
with great vigour; in leaps and bounds; (lit.) with the force of surging waves
natural; understandable; reasonable; no wonder
impossible to do (although wants to)
to take one's place; to take one's position; to go into position; to line up
count; counting; count of balls and strikes; count (after a knock-down in boxing); count (of radioactivity)
reins; bridle; control; the reins (on)
to pull oneself together; to focus one's mind; to brace oneself; to gird up one's loins
as expected; predictably; not surprisingly
leaving behind; desertion; abandonment
last place; lowest position; lowest rank; least significant (bit); lowest order
to re-think; to think back upon; to change one's mind
to step firmly; to harden by treading
just like that; in the twinkling of an eye; in the blink of an eye; (lit.) in the time it takes to say "ah!"
to be slow; to not make progress; to be inefficient
to have a meal; to eat; to make a living; to earn one's bread
to satisfy one's appetite