average; medium; mid-grade (item); regular grade; same level as; equal to
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
(real) ability; true strength; merit; arms; force
pride; self-confidence; thinking highly of oneself; being proud of one's abilities or achievements
to catch; to stop the blow; to react to; to take (advice, etc.); to accept
dainty; delicate (e.g. fingers); fine; sensitive; delicate (feelings, sense, etc.); subtle
small; fine; minute; minor; trivial; sensitive
precision instrument or machine
to crush (with one's hands); to kill a proposal; to shelve; to table (remove from consideration)
to carry on one's back; to bear; to take (responsibility); to assume; to suffer (an injury); to sustain (a wound)
(one's) shame and public reputation; (one's) sense of shame and concern for appearances
young; youthful; immature; green; low (number); small
head (of a household, etc.); leader; owner; proprietor; subject (of a rumour, etc.); doer (of a deed); guardian spirit (e.g. long-resident beast, usu. with mystical powers)
descent; fall; drop; passing down (of an order, decree, etc.)
to be effective; to take effect; to work; to function well; to be possible (to do, use, etc.); to be able to
to live through hell; to go to hell and back; to suffer dire straits
shooting down (an aircraft)
literally; to the letter; literal
army; armed forces; military authorities; team; group
investigation (e.g. by police or prosecutors); examination; inquiry; enquiry
large quantity; massive (quantity); mass (e.g. mass production, mass transit, mass destruction)
protection; safeguard; guardianship; preservation; conservation
at; in; at; when; by; with
an issue being settled; a case being closed
contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
to place on (something); to give (someone) a ride; to give a lift; to load (luggage); to carry; to send out (on the airwaves, etc.); to deceive
interrogation room; interview room; sweatbox
to investigate; to examine
wearing (e.g. a uniform, seat belt, helmet); having on
headache inducing; vexing
boy; son; baby boy; young man
or something; for instance ... (though there are other suitable options); ... or ...; as soon as; right after; while still
pasturing (e.g. cattle); letting (an animal) run loose; letting (someone) do as they please; leaving (something) to take its own course; letting (an issue) go unchecked
clamour; clamor; uproar; tumult; furore; furor
achievement; feat; meritorious deed; distinguished service
settlement (of a matter); sorting out; winding up (affairs); cleaning up afterwards; tidying up (when finished)
random; by chance; haphazard; hit-or-miss; unplanned
excuse me; pardon me; I'm sorry; thank you; you shouldn't have; it's too much
to catch; to capture; to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to captivate; to move (one's heart)
person who has rendered distinguished service
in consideration of; in deference to; out of respect for; for (someone's) sake
to stand in the way; to bar someone's way; to block the way
riot; rebellion; (media) uproar; brouhaha; feud; tussle