followers; subordinates; being under someone's command
fighting with real swords; game played in real earnest
victory; triumph; win; conquest; success
readiness; (mental) preparedness; resolution; determination; resignation (to one's fate)
dawn; daybreak; event (e.g. "in the event of ..."); occasion; occurrence
tearing up and discarding (e.g. documents); destruction; annulment; cancellation; reversal (of an original ruling on appeal); quashing
road; path; route; way; distance; journey; road (e.g. to victory)
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
to eat; to drink; to smoke; to suffer (e.g. defeat); to receive a blow
belonging to (a group, organization, etc.); affiliation (with); being attached to; being under the control of; serving (in the military, congress, etc.)
privileged path to high status (e.g. in business, education, etc.); fast track to success; road to success
new rice; first rice crop of the year; novice; beginner; newcomer
from the beginning; from scratch
no matter how you put it; whatever the circumstances may be; say what you like; no matter how you look at it
sharp, loud rebuke; bark; roar; rebuke used in Zen to achieve enlightenment
imposing stance; daunting pose
with a shiver (down one's spine); with a sudden chill
comprehension; consent; understanding; OK; roger
matter; affair; counter for (received) emails, text messages, voicemail messages, etc.; counter for accounts (on a website, email service, etc.)
in spite of; despite; although; nonetheless; nevertheless; but
to give; to confer; to bestow; to kindly do for one; to oblige; to favour
tolerant; generous; lenient; broad-minded; magnanimous
mind; heart; spirit; the meaning of a phrase (riddle, etc.)
thanks; gratitude; appreciation; thankfulness
speech; expression; wording; language
it is ... that ...; precisely; although; while; it is precisely because ... that ...; only because ...
certain; sure; no doubt; reliable; dependable
fighting spirit; (will to) fight
pure; genuine; trueborn; natural-born
real feeling; actual feeling; to actually feel; to have a real feeling (that ...); to experience personally
negotiations; bargaining; discussions; connection; relationship; relations
formation; establishment; conclusion (e.g. of a deal); reaching (e.g. an agreement); being valid (of a theory, argument, etc.); holding
opponent; adversary; the competition; the other side; one's enemy
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
election; selection; choice
to turn over; to change (one's mind); to reverse (one's decision); to fly (a flag); to let (a skirt, cape, etc.) flap in the wind
to turn on one's heel; to turn back; to return
to stop walking; to pause
dangerous; unsettled; troubled; disturbed; insecure
why; how; for what reason