self-esteem; self-respect; self-importance; conceit; pride
assertiveness; positiveness; initiative; spirit of enterprise
to knead; to thicken into a paste (stirring over a flame); to polish (a plan, etc.); to refine; to train; to drill; to gloss (silk)
palm (of one's hand); skill; (in one's) grip; (under one's) control; one's (concealed) intentions; one's cards
trembling (with fear, anger, etc.); shivering (with cold); shaking; quivering
good thing; nice thing; good excuse; good grounds; (good) idea; interjection used to impress an idea or to urge a response
threat; bird-scaring device (scarecrow, gun, etc.)
filling (up) a hole; filling in (for a gap, vacancy, etc.); stopgap; making up (for a loss, damage, etc.); covering (a deficit); fill-in-the-blank activity
treatment; service; handling (of a machine, tool, etc.); operation; treating as; treating like
price; cost; value; worth; value
to be sharp; to be keen; to be on the ball; to have a mind like a steel trap; to be clever
to take precautions; to set a guard against attack
reaction; recoil; kick; backlash
to collapse; to flop (onto)
awkward; uncomfortable; embarrassing
to cross over; to cross; to pass through; to exceed; to surpass; to be more (than)
to draw (attention, sympathy, etc.); to attract (e.g. interest)
even though; despite; when
only; merely; just; at most; no more than
defensive perimeter; defence line; defense line; precaution; safeguard; safety measure
chest; breast; breasts; bosom; heart; lungs; stomach
very thin; flimsy; cheap; shallow
passing through without stopping; passing by
you must be kidding; hey, come on!; surely not!
gold (metal); gold (color); gold (medal); first place (prize); something of great value; something golden (e.g. silence); money
astonished; shocked; amazed; astounded; aghast
to dominate; to prevail; to be superior to; to get ahead of; to get the upper hand
the public; the street (e.g. "word on the street"); street; district; location (e.g. of a battle); scene (e.g. of carnage)
original; unique; distinctive; independent; one's own; personal
accomplice; conspirator; cohort
to be at a loss for words
preparation; arrangements; getting ready; provision; setup; reserving
even if ...; even supposing that ...
one's share; one's portion
broke; poor; short; skint; having no money
writing off (a debt); cancellation; balancing the books; cancelling out (gains or losses); making even; making up (for)
to take advantage of; to impose on; to exploit; to enter (an item in a ledger); to make an entry (in an account book)
speaking of; (I told you) already; come on
suspicious; doubtful; dubious; questionable; fishy
an assortment; combination
benefactor; patron; person to whom one owes a great deal; person to whom one is (deeply) indebted
to whine; to make feeble complaints
knack; skill; bone; skeleton; cremated remains (esp. the bones); ashes