well-versed (in); profoundly knowledgeable (about); high in the attainment (of)
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
to say; to be pleased to say
to take pride in; to pride oneself; to be proud of
seeming to want to say something; looking like one wants to give one's opinion
to set up (a house, store, etc.); to build; to have at the ready (e.g. a gun); to hold in preparation (e.g. a camera); to adopt a posture; to assume a stance; to put on an air
hypothesis; supposition; assumption; expectation; anticipation
to get impatient; to become irritated; to fret; to chafe
what the hell?; what are you going on about?; what the hell are you doing?; you've got to be kidding
won't; hasn't; isn't; won't you
vector; direction (e.g. of one's activities or interests); focus
lightning; flash of lightning; lightning bolt
stagnation; tie-up; standstill; congestion; delay; accumulation
acceleration; speeding up
youngster; neophyte; greenhorn
plain; frank; candid; open; direct; straightforward
jumping to a wrong conclusion
surely; certainly; no doubt; must
to boast of; to be proud of; to take pride in
there is no way that ...; easy; simple
terrible; dreadful; amazing (e.g. of strength); great (e.g. of skills); to a great extent; vast (in numbers)
I'm sorry; my apologies; excuse me; pardon me
protection; defence; support; safeguarding; championship; vindication
to take out; to carry out; to bring out from where it belongs; to mention something; to broach a topic; to bring up (a subject)
to give off sparks; to spark; to have a heated argument; to fight fiercely
to be embarrassed; to lose face
to pick out (with the fingers); to pull out; to throw out (e.g. of a bar); to drag out; to chuck out
to pretend; to act (as if)
stomach; Chinese "stomach" constellation (one of the 28 mansions)
to be aware of; to know about; to be concerned in; to have to do with
one's own child; one's own children
big moment (e.g. performance, in the spotlight); gala occasion; (on the) world stage
years gone by; earlier years; former years; the past
worthy opponent; worthy rival; good match
what kind of; what sort of; what; no matter what (kind of); whatever; any
from out of nowhere; from who knows where
to compete (with each other); to contend for; to vie for; to rival
to be overawed; to be overwhelmed; to be overcome; to be intimidated; to be daunted
continuation; rest (of the story, work, etc.); flow (e.g. of a piece of writing); pacing (of a story); succession (of); sequence