stage (of a theatre, concert hall, etc.); stage performance; stage production; setting (of a story); scene; sphere (of activity)
script; screenplay; scenario
specialist; expert; professional; authority; pundit
to assume an air of ...; to act ...; to affect ...; to put on airs; to be self-important
to suffer; to receive (kindness, rebuke, support); to sustain (damage)
brute force approach (esp. in a video game)
judgment; judgement; divination; judgement
conditional; qualified; with conditions attached
stake all (on something); play for all or nothing; throwing all into a task
do-or-die game; crucial contest
to watch steadily; to stare
what?!; what did you say?!; why?; what for?; anyone; anything
to take the lead; to lead a group; to be in the vanguard
still; much more; (not) yet; still a long way to go; still a long way off; not there yet
mark; sign; symbol; emblem; badge; crest
to be accompanied by; to be attended by; to take along (someone); to conquer; to subjugate; to subdue
once; one time; one round; one game; one bout; one heat
halfway (through, complete); midway
involuntarily; reluctantly; against one's inclination; against one's will; as a matter of unpleasant necessity; despite oneself
to turn; to rotate; to pass around; to send around; to move (someone or something to where its needed); to send; to turn (to a new use)
(a) step; one step; level; stage; small degree; small amount
life; lifetime; career; for life; all one's life; throughout one's life
bizarre plan; perplexing strategy; outlandish scheme
to play with; to joke; to use (esp. trick, sophistry, etc.); to deride; to scoff at; to make fun of
comfort; consolation; diversion
be that as it may; even so; though that be so
cease-fire; truce; armistice
to be impolite; to be discourteous
stone; rock; jewel; precious stone; flint (in a lighter); (round) game piece
to correct; to touch up; to smarten up; to put one's hand in (e.g. pocket)
suddenly; unexpectedly; by chance; accidentally; lightly; nimbly
treating someone like a child
soliloquy; monologue; speaking to oneself
(a matter of) chance; fortune (of a given time); force of the times
wise person; virtuous person; sage; unrefined sake
pretext; history; past; according to ...; ... says
at; in; at; when; by; with