to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
prop; stay; support; brace; fulcrum
bound hand and foot; hedged in (e.g. by restrictions); immobile
abandonment; renunciation; resignation; abdication (responsibility, right)
at a disadvantage; in an unfavourable position; having poor prospects; standing little chance
cannot avoid doing; cannot help but (do); is compelled to do; (feel) obliged to (do); has to do
wait-and-see (situation, stance, etc.); waiting to see (how things play out); watching developments (before acting)
to consider as; to regard (as equivalent); to deem (as); to equate
party; gang; company; squad
to lick; to lap; to taste; to experience (esp. a hardship); to look down on (someone); to make fun of
advance party; advance team; advance group; vanguard unit
mesh-patterned; webbed; cancellous; cancellate; reticulate; reticulated
to throw; to hurl; to give up; to abandon; to cast (a glance, shadow, doubt, etc.)
even if; even though; even; too; whether ... or ...; no matter (what, where, who, etc.)
half; semi-; half-past; odd number; (arch.) unit of land area (595.8 m^2)
that way; that direction; that (one); that person; there; over there
unperturbed; undaunted; retaining composure; unyielding; not giving an inch
polish; improvement; burnishing
surface; face; outside; exterior; appearances; superficiality
ramming attack; hurling oneself (at); throwing oneself into (e.g. a role); going all out
literally; to the letter; literal
burden; load (e.g. CPU time, electricity, etc.)
expansion and contraction; elasticity; flexibility
to set free; to let go; to release; to miss (e.g. a chance); to lose; to let get away
sting (of a bee, etc.); stinger; needle covered with poison
to be blessed with; to be rich in; to abound in
preemptive strike; preemptive attack; first strike
anti-aircraft; antiaircraft
living thing; living creature; animal; life
head; brains; intellect; understanding
making use of; application; practical use; operation; handling; steering (esp. a boat)
to gulp down; to swallow deeply; to understand; to take in; to engulf; to swallow up
to throw at; to throw something at a person; to throw a person down
exclusion; removal; rejection; elimination; abatement; lifting (sanctions, etc.)
what's the best thing to do?; what to do?
to harden; to solidify; to become firm; to become certain; to gather (together); to assemble
to come to one's senses; to calm down
revival from the brink of death; recovering from a hopeless situation; resuscitation; revitalization
decisive action; going through with; daring to do; carrying out