mockery by means of excessive praise; damning with lavish praise; backhanded compliment
insane; crazy; nuts; out of one's mind
first game; first round (of tennis, etc.)
suddenly; in a flash; rapidly; attractive; distinguished; showy
to use X as a selling point
taking part on the spur of the moment; participating without registering beforehand; last-minute entrant; specking on flower petals
counter-current; adverse tide; regurgitation (of blood)
to negotiate; to settle a matter; to arrange
lottery; lot; raffle; draw
mask; veil; disguise; anonymous; unmarked; incognito
lukewarm; tepid; disagreeably warm (e.g. bath)
anonymity; using an assumed name
to wish someone good luck; to wish someone success
(one's) whereabouts; destination; where one is headed; outcome; course (of events); future
(establishing a) big lead; (winning by a) huge margin; breaking away (from the field)
falling together; mutual destruction; joint bankruptcy
to abuse; to exploit to the full; to give free rein to
opening performance; opening act; curtain raiser; minor performer; minor storyteller; subordinate part
old-timer; veteran; senior; old stump; old roots
decision of a contest; finals (in sports)
generous; magnanimous; big-hearted; broad-minded; (lit.) big-bellied
participation award; prize for participation
wings of a stage; side stage; coulisse
fraud; trickery; hoax; swindle; counterfeit; fake
opponent; adversary; the competition; the other side; one's enemy
(in) his way; peculiar to him
deciding match; play-off; runoff
counting ballots; tally (of votes)
drawcard; attractive program; good match; good game
touchstone; Lydian stone; touchstone (e.g. of success); test; litmus test
deciding match (in a competition for a cup (pennant))
to clash; to collide; to conflict; to meet (by chance); to come across; to run into
first match (in a series)
close quarters combat; CQC