banker (gambling); bookmaker; person who runs a gambling den; manager; boss
tournament; knockout tournament (esp. single-elimination); elimination tournament
championship game; finals (of a tournament); deciding round
loser; failure; underdog; unmarried and childless older woman
quitting while one is ahead; running from a rematch after one has won
here and there; in places
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to underestimate; to make light of
eye for people; ability to judge character
retry; another try; another go
gradually becoming poor; situation getting gradually worse and worse
being defeated; being eliminated (from competition)
to avenge (someone) by striking down their killer
vengeance; revenge; retaliation
monopoly; monopolization; exclusive sales rights
to discard; to abandon; to neglect; to let be
damp ground; wetland; bog; marsh
ground; crust (earth); foundation (building, etc.); base; constituency; power base
conscientious; reasonable (e.g. price); honest; honorable
to be caught in a dilemma; to get into a scrape
looking directly at; looking straight at; looking squarely at (e.g. a problem); facing (e.g. the truth); normal vision; emmetropia
to be unable to endure; to be unable to stand (something); to lose patience
peak period; pinnacle; prime; zenith; glory days
(bringing to a) perfect end; (rounding off with a) crowning achievement; successful conclusion; triumphant finish
poverty; penury; need; shortage; lack; want
bursting; rupture; explosion; breakdown (of talks, negotiations, etc.); breaking off
closely contested constituency; highly competitive marketplace; (fig.) battleground
fit of anger; temper; rage; bang snap
to fit (e.g. a pane into a frame); to set (e.g. a diamond); to plug in (to a formula); to entrap; to take (someone) in
(opening of a) wound; cut
to hang over; to shroud; to enshroud; to envelop; to screen
profound; deep; deep (of a cave, etc.); innermost; interior
hot blood; warm blood; zeal; fervor; fervour
bad condition; poor condition; disorder; failure; rupture; breakdown (e.g. of negotiations)
to take a view or perspective; to regard as; to consider to be
sharp pain; acute pain; intense pain
to wait and see; to sit on the fence; to be noncommittal
things to note; matters that require attention; important points; considerations; precautions; suggestions
first volume (in a two or three-volume set); first book; volume one; book one