to receive; to get; to accept; to take (someone's words or behaviour); to interpret; to understand
pessimism; (taking a) gloomy view; discouragement; despondency; despair; disappointment
marks; points; score; number of items; number of articles
originally; primarily; essentially; intrinsically; proper; rightful
end; ending; close; end of (one's) life; death
to challenge to (a fight, game, etc.); to throw down the gauntlet; to tackle (e.g. a problem); to attempt; to pressure (someone) for sex; to make advances to
to comfort; to console; to amuse
hundred points; perfect mark
if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say
depending on; as soon as; immediately after; as (e.g. "as one is told", "as one wishes"); whatever (e.g. "whatever is at hand"); order; program
to some extent; to a certain extent
circle; "correct"; "good"; *; _; period
perfect score; full marks; perfect; entirely satisfactory; excellent
increasingly; more and more; decreasingly; less and less
victory or defeat; match; contest; game
surplus; margin; leeway; composure; placidity; complacency
to assume an air of ...; to act ...; to affect ...; to put on airs; to be self-important
conclusion; decision; end; settlement
hating to lose; unyielding; unbending; competitive; sore loser; determined
mind; spirit; attitude; mentality; spirit (of a matter); essence
important; significant; precious; valuable; careful
rival; competitor; competition
to take a view or perspective; to regard as; to consider to be
transition; changeover; switchover; transfer (of powers, weight, etc.); shift (e.g. of centre of gravity)
to take (someone to a place); to take (someone) with one; to take along; to lead away
thick; bulky; massive; heavy
to partition; to divide; to direct; to manage; to settle accounts; to assume a crouching posture (at the start of a bout)
in the ground; in the earth; underground; subterranean
to dig; to excavate; to delve into; to dig up (vegetables, treasure, etc.); to mine (coal, ore, etc.); to top
such ... as; or some such
other side; opposite side; other party
iron grill; iron grille; iron lattice; prison
to fit (e.g. a pane into a frame); to insert (e.g. a cork); to put on (something that envelops; e.g. a ring, gloves); to place (a hoop) around; to pigeonhole (into a particular category); to force (into a mold); to entrap
going ahead; going first; preceding; coming before; scoring first; getting off to a lead
hope; wish; aspiration; (bright) prospects; expectation
ladder; stairs; going to several places in succession (e.g. barhopping)
ox-headed demon (in hell)
to starve; to be famished; to be hungry; to be starved of (e.g. love); to be thirsty for (e.g. knowledge); to be hungry for
the minute (that) ...; no sooner than ...; as soon as; whether or not
to use up; to exhaust; to devote oneself (to); to do one's utmost (for); to do to exhaustion; to do completely