serious look (on one's face); straight face
hard fight; close game; struggle; tight contest
killer technique; surefire assassination method; special or lethal move, usu. one unique to a certain fighter or fighting style
secret techniques (of an art or skill); inner mysteries; essence; quintessence; heart
skillful; adroit; craft; craftsmanship; plot; scheme
to take (someone) with one; to bring along; to go with; to be accompanied by
decoration; ornament; trimmings
training; drill; practice; practising; discipline
improvement (e.g. in skill, ability); advance; progress; communication of opinions of the general populace to those of high rank
to be pretentious; to put on airs; to show off
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
to spill; to drop; to grumble (about); to complain (of); to let (one's feelings) show
feeling; sensation; tentative; rough; interjection
it's not over yet; you haven't seen anything yet; it's not over until the fat lady sings; it's too soon to tell; we're not out of the woods
serious; not joking; straight; (arch.) cannot; (arch.) should not; (arch.) will not
dissatisfaction; discontent; disapproval; objection; complaint; protest
objection; refutation; rebuttal; counterargument
just because; even if; even though
recitation; reciting from memory
before the week is out; before the week is over; within the week; sometime this week
teary-eyed; damp (e.g. skin, hair); moist
to be wet (with tears); to be moist; to get dim; to become blurred; to become tear-choked
sympathy; compassion; pity
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
actually; really; truly; in practice; practically
(practical) experience; personal experience; hands-on experience; first-hand experience
so much; so often; oh, yes!; that's it; that's right; quite
once; one time; one round; one game; one bout; one heat
attack; attack (on a difficult task); tackling; making an assault (on a summit); attack
counter for chairs or seats; foot; leg
field of vision; visibility; view; visual field; (one's) ken
to interrupt; to obstruct (a view, someone's way, etc.); to block (light, wind, etc.); to intercept; to cut off
grassy field; grassland; meadow; grass-covered plain; savannah; prairie
to speak (of something); to be effective; to be powerful; to be helpful
in the end; on top of that
pond skater (any insect of family Gerridae); water strider
too much for one to handle; beyond one's capacity; unmanageable; uncontrollable; incorrigible; obstreperous
regarding ...; concerning ...; about ...; on ...; with respect to ...; in regard to ...