darkness; the dark; bewilderment; despair; hidden place; secrecy
to look into; to peep into; to peer into
to leave behind; to put off; to postpone
preliminary contest; qualifying round; trial; preliminary selection; screening (e.g. of applicants); provisional election
player (of a sport); athlete; team member
another school; other schools
opening (in a game of go, chess, etc.); early stages; initial phase; outset
to put together; to combine; to join together; to match against (e.g. in a sport)
sham battle; mock battle; dry run; military exercise; war game
self-recommendation; self-nomination; putting oneself forward
recommendation (by others)
to ask; to inquire; to blame (someone) for; to accuse of; to care about; to regard as important
watchful waiting; careful supervision
having an aptitude (for); having a talent (for)
while it may be true that; just because; nevertheless; not necessarily
provocative; incendiary; inflammatory; suggestive; lascivious; risqué
until then; till then; to that extent; the end of it; all there is to it
another; different; something else
yes?; no?; isn't it?; is it?
all one's power (strength, energy, efforts); one's utmost
presence (e.g. of an observer); observation; trading session (at an exchange); rising from a crouch to charge; initial charge
the other day; previously; last time; last (Sunday, summer, etc.); previous (e.g. mayor, chapter)
order; rank; position (e.g. in a race); precedence
victory or defeat; match; contest; game
to open the lid; to lift a lid; to open the lid (on); to make public; to start (something); to look at the results (consequences, outcome, effect)
to determine whether something is right or wrong; to make something clear; to settle a matter
without; unacceptable; not alright; (arch.) nonexistent; (arch.) not being (there)
you (plural); all of you; you all
victory or defeat; outcome (of a game, battle, etc.)
defeat; loss; reverse; setback
dangerous; risky; in danger; in jeopardy; uncertain; unreliable
to intervene; to stop (something)
to surround; to crowd around; to gather around; to encircle; to besiege
straight (ahead); direct; upright; straightforward; honest; frank
beginning; start; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
acknowledgement; acknowledgment; recognition; cognition
upper tier; upper section; place of honor; place of honour; dais; raised part of floor
heavy; weighty; heavy (feeling); depressed; slow; sluggish; important (position, responsibility, etc.)
(not) necessarily; (not) entirely; (not) altogether
of great promise; with a promising future
after all is said and done; no matter what people say; in the end; definitely; undeniably
hating to lose; unyielding; unbending; competitive; sore loser; determined
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