recovery; regaining; getting back; retrieval; restoration; revival
altitude; height; elevation; high-degree; high-grade; advanced
difficult to understand; unintelligible; abstruse
decisive blow; game-winning hit (e.g. in baseball)
decisive moment; turning point; critical moment; win-or-bust situation
early dawn; grey of morning; gray of morning
free (of restraint, controls, etc.); free (of charge); freelance; independent; freelancer; one-size-fits-all; free skating
to swell up; to bulge; to swell (of a budget, population, etc.); to increase significantly; to balloon
to wring the neck; to strangle
to drill; to bore; to hit the mark; to get to the heart of (the matter); (arch.) to put on; (arch.) to wear
edge of the ring; verge; brink; critical moment
pinch; tough spot; bind; clothespin; clothes peg
turning around; spinning around; curling up; round and charming (e.g. eyes)
posture; position; stance
to replace; to substitute; to switch; to move (something); to transfer
trump; trump card; ace up one's sleeve; secret weapon
raising (bet); raising (object); lifting; raising (topic); bringing up; raising (children); rearing
one's hand; name tag; nameplate; wallet-sized (photo)
straight; straightforward; direct; straight (wins, sets, etc.); straight (liquor); neat; entering university right after graduating high school
flash (esp. of a camera); flashlight; very short scene in a film or TV show; newsflash
(nearly certain) death; extremely dangerous place (or situation) from which one might not return alive; proper place to die; dilemma; predicament
hero; heroine; Eroica Symphony (Beethoven, 1804); Heroic Polonaise (Chopin)
do-or-die game; crucial contest
to occur to; to remind of; to come to mind
to stream; to flow (liquid, time, etc.); to be washed away; to be carried; to drift; to float (e.g. clouds); to sweep (e.g. rumour, fire)
and so; therefore; for that reason
fragment; small piece; scrap; shred (e.g. of emotion); trace; bit
to answer; to respond; to meet; to satisfy; to accept
yen (currency of Japan); circle
to go past (a place or thing); to go beyond
to go through; to pass through; to get through; to cut across
attractive; good-looking; stylish; cool; smooth; neat
just because; even if; even though
motion (i.e. proposal to a committee, etc.)
please (give me); please (do for me)
to finish; to get it over with; to settle; to pay back; to get along (without something); to make do with (without)
to fly (with great force); to blast (e.g. into the sky); to lack common sense; to be extremely surprised (by)
memento (esp. of a deceased person); keepsake; heirloom; remembrance; souvenir
hell on earth; living hell