reliable; trustworthy; hopeful; promising
nest; rookery; den; haunt; (spider's) web
bustling; shuffling; squirming; creepy crawly
important task; important role; major part (in a film, play, etc.); leading role; high-scoring combination
to be ordered (to do); to be charged with (a duty); to be assigned (a job)
to become pale; to turn pale
unfortunately; sorry, but ...
at any moment (now); at any minute; on the verge of (doing); just about to
that's true; of course; obviously
Island; insula; island; islet
taking the field first, thus batting second
to take one's place; to take one's position; to go into position; to line up
war or military record; score; military achievements; results
do-or-die game; crucial contest
raising the curtain; opening (of an event); start of a season
play ball!; starting a match (of baseball, tennis, etc.)
disgraceful behavior; disgraceful behaviour; shameful sight
relief; aid; help; (religious) salvation; (Christian) grace
water tank; cistern; fish tank; aquarium
to take (seat, position, course, office, etc.); to assume; to ascend (the throne); to accede; to start (on a journey); to commence
wasteland; wilderness; deserted land; prairie; vast plain; wilds
to get complicated; to grow worse; to turn sour
losing easily; being trounced; being beaten hands down
(place of) refuge; escape; exit; way out; shelter; hiding place
habitual criminal; recidivist; recidivism; habitual criminal activity
gofer; dogsbody; person who is made to do things or get things for someone else
to wither (of flowers, dreams, etc.); to wilt; to droop; to shrivel; to fade (away); to sag
precise; accurate; appropriate; exactly the right
to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge; to peck at (one's food); to pick at; to peck at (someone's faults, etc.); to egg on
to leave (a scene); to step away
hurried construction; hurried production; hasty manufacture; hasty formation
battery; battery; pitcher and catcher
private talk; confidential talk; secret talk
to take measures; to work out a plan; to lecture; to read aloud; to confer
diamond (mineral, gemstone); diamond; infield; diamond (card suit)
to fire oneself up; to give it one's all; to get psyched; to fire someone up (with scolding, corporal punishment, etc.); to rouse
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
spirit; soul; drive; vigor; vigour
to tire of; to lose interest in; to be too much for one; to find unmanageable; to be beyond one's control; to not know what to do with
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
to come untied; to come apart; to be softened; to be relaxed
unskilled; clumsy; lousy; poor; awkward; shitty