goal; target; aim; mark; sign; landmark
to go on the defensive; to play it safe
plan to overcome an obstacle or break out of a deadlock; breakthrough solution
conclusion; execution (of a contract); entering (into treaty); fastening (as in a joint)
spirit; mind; nature; disposition; intention; mind; mood
chief; main; principal; major
good flavor (flavour); good taste; umami (fifth category of taste in food); skill; cleverness; profit
to breathe in; to inhale; to suck; to sip; to absorb; to soak up
to drop; to lose; to clean off (dirt, makeup, paint, etc.); to remove (e.g. stains or facial hair); to lose (a match); to reject (an applicant); to lower (e.g. shoulders or voice)
in history; ever; historical
to take advantage of; to follow blindly; to multiply
one's own potential; real ability; one's own strength
tomfoolery; foolish act; nonsense; fool; idiot
common sense; common knowledge; common understanding
to strengthen; to beef up; to put on a firm basis; to ensure; to secure
tacit understanding; unspoken agreement
breakwater; mole; seawall; bulwark; shield (e.g. against critcism); protective barrier
average; medium; mid-grade (item); regular grade; same level as; equal to
slowly; inefficiently; tardily; dawdling
taking a quantity (of time, people, etc.); similar to ...; dependent on ...; reliant on ...; while ...; when ...
flying column; detached force
(all) important positions; every strategic point; each key post; (all) important parts; every important point
fortress; stronghold; citadel
remote region; outlying district; border district; frontier
mounted bandit (esp. in north-east China from the end of the Qing dynasty)
national defence; national defense
political measures; policy
city planning; urban planning; town planning
strengthening; intensifying; reinforcement; reinforcement
protective wall; defensive wall; barrier; bulwark
to defend against; to protect against; to prevent; to avert; to avoid
to make (the best) use of; to put to good use; to let live; to keep alive; to revive; to resuscitate
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
to grant (request, wish); to answer (prayer); to make come true (e.g. a dream); to realize; to fulfill
breaking through; breakthrough; surmounting (a difficulty); overcoming; exceeding; passing
how to use; method for using; way of using
to be sticky; to be adhesive; to persevere; to persist; to stick to
main topic; main subject; main issue; this subject
to twinkle (e.g. stars); to flicker; to waver; to blink (one's eyes); to wink; to bat
circumstances; sequence of events; how things got this way; details; particulars
plentiful; abundant; definitely extant