scene; setting; scene (in a movie, play); shot; state of the market
tempering (metal); annealing; forging; toughening; disciplining; training
formidable enemy; strong enemy; tough enemy
to furnish with; to equip with; to prepare for; to make preparations for; to possess (all that is needed); to be endowed with
results; record; grades; marks
(about) medium; middle; average
of course; certainly; naturally
ability; competency; talent; skill; capacity
far and away the best; the very best; cream of the crop; crème de la crème; decisive lead; commanding lead
first place; first rank; units position (of a number)
to spend time (on doing something)
gradually (progressing); steadily; slowly; seeping out (sweat, tears, etc.)
to scrape out; to rake out (e.g. ashes); to bail out (e.g. water)
rest; break; recess; intermission
to persevere; to keep at something (regardless of one's fatigue)
improvement (e.g. in skill, ability); advance; progress; communication of opinions of the general populace to those of high rank
unfathomable; inestimable; immeasurable
at first; in the beginning; originally
half in doubt; half-convinced; dubious; incredulous
to cut; to cut through; to sever (connections, ties); to turn off (e.g. the light); to terminate (e.g. a conversation); to hang up (the phone); to punch (a ticket)
one's own potential; real ability; one's own strength
to polish; to shine; to burnish; to refine (a skill, etc.); to improve; to hone
to work hard; to try hard; to strive; to endeavour; to endeavor; to devote oneself to
to wait eagerly for; to look forward to
elevation (of spirits); raising (of morale); uplift; upsurge
you could say that; that might be so
travel; trip; journey; excursion; tour
day in question; appointed day; that very day; the day (of issue, publication, etc.)
to go out to meet; to receive; to call for; to summon; to accept (e.g. as a member of a group or family); to take (e.g. a wife)
in terms of both ... and ...; from the perspective of ... as well as ...; whether it be ... or ...
achievement; meritorious deed; distinguished service; contribution
emergency; extreme; great; extraordinary
popularity; public favor; condition (e.g. market); tone; character
tightly; closely; exactly; precisely; suddenly (stopping); perfectly (suited)
hitting the target; striking home; proving to be right; coming true; being on the mark
unsatisfying; disappointing; abrupt; not enough; too quick; too short
I don't care; fine, whatever; that's okay; sure, go ahead
to think up; to think out; to knit (a pattern into a sweater, etc.); to start knitting
mass meeting; convention; tournament; competition; grand event
to be piled up; to lie on top of one another; to come one after another; to happen over and over; to overlap (each other); to occur at the same time
intelligence gathering; information gathering
to try to do; to attempt to do
at this stage; at this point; (only) now
to go out; to go around; to walk about; to roam
familiarity with the land; (having) knowledge about a place