equality; impartiality; evenness
even; flat; level; calm; peaceful; uneventful
to be affected; to be theatrical; to be pompous
to put one's strength into
subtle; delicate; difficult; complex; doubtful; questionable
battle; fight; war; struggle; conflict
dealing with; coping with
(relative) merits; superiority or inferiority; quality
primordial; fundamental; basic; primitive
worthless; insignificant; unimportant; poor; miserable; wretched
celebrated personage; big-wig; person in a high position
important person; influential figure; big shot; big thing; big one; big game
to take the lead; to lead a group; to be in the vanguard
pride; boast; credit (to)
to instigate; to tempt; to entice; to incite
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
backing; support; backer; shield that protects one's back
to step forward; to step forth; to advance; to start; to embark on; to set forth on
weapon; arms; ordnance; weapon (something used to gain an advantage); asset
to each his own; people differ; different people (have different likes)
to a greater or lesser extent (degree); more or less
to try and do something; to attempt to do something
always; without exception; necessarily; certainly; without fail; positively
center; centre; middle; -centered; -centred; -focused
to arrive at (after a struggle); to finally reach; to find one's way to; to finally hit on (e.g. an idea)
to stop midway; to interrupt
to curse; to put a curse on; to detest intensely
unimpressive; unimpressed
even; (if) only; just; besides; on top of that
as if ...; as if to say ...; as though ...
to manage something successfully; to be successful
leading person; foremost figure
every day; daily; day after day; days (e.g. good old days)
a few years ago; some years back
to hide; to keep to oneself
reason; cause; circumstances
to shake one's head (in denial)