rise of the curtain; opening of a play; beginning (e.g. of an era); start; opening (of a tournament, festival, etc.)
excitement; stimulation; agitation; arousal
echo; reverberation; sound (esp. the distinctive sound of an object or activity, e.g. rain, gun, gallop, drum); noise; quality of a sound (e.g. a fine phrase, clear voice, resonant bell); feeling of a sound
synopsis; plot; outline; plan; scheme; program
floating ball of fire (said to be the soul of a dead person); meteor; shooting star
conspicuously; noticeably; remarkably; strikingly; outstandingly; especially
extravagant; lavish; opulent; luxurious; magnificent; splendid
to put on airs; to assume importance; to be self-important; to be pretentious; to be pompous; to stand on one's dignity
how others look at you; what others think about you
negligence; carelessness; inattention; unpreparedness
trap (for catching animals); snare; trap; trick; ruse
state capital; provincial capital; county town
chamfering; beveling; bevelling; rounding the edges (of a vegetable); trimming the corners
to fall into (someone's) hands; to fall under someone's control; to become someone's property (e.g. of an object)
to train; to teach; to acquire (information); to learn; to stock; to stock up on
action; operation; process; agency; effect; function
to darken one's face; to assume a gloomy look
betrayer; traitor; turncoat; informer
mole; whistle-blower; informant; adulterer; adulteress
to steal; to rob; to take away
unexpected; unscheduled; unforeseen; unplanned
occurrence; happening; incident; event
if; in case; supposing; worst (case); unexpected (occurence); unforeseen
to invade; to attack; to breach; to penetrate
clearly; plainly; distinctly; decisively; flatly; definitely
trend; tendency; movement; attitude
bloodshot eyes; (doing something in a) frenzy
to poke (repeatedly, lightly); to nudge; to peck at (one's food); to pick at; to peck at (someone's faults, etc.); to egg on
thicket; bush; grove; (medical) quack
to trap (into a difficult situation); to put (in a fix); to capture (a castle, fortress, etc.); to take; to drop (something) into
travel; trip; journey; excursion; tour
for a moment; for a minute; for a while; for some time; for the time being; for now
gradually; slowly but steadily
to notice; to realize; to be attentive; to be scrupulous; to regain consciousness; to come to (one's senses)
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
someone who is in their element; (lit.) fish that has found water
to knock (ideas) against each other; to present competing ideas; to have a lively exchange of ideas; to smash together; to crash into each other; to throw at each other
to ring; to sound; to be popular; to be esteemed; to state; to insist
encouragement; inspiration; rousing; stirring up; raising (e.g. morale)