to be itching to put one's skills to use
variables; uncertain elements; uncertainties; imponderables
extremely important; essential; vital; crucial
surface of the earth; ground surface
unexpected; unscheduled; unforeseen; unplanned
to stir; to churn; to rummage around; to throw into confusion; to throw into chaos
to stare back at; to look back at
party (political); person who is fond of; fan of
defending to the last; desperate defence; stubborn defence
as likely as not; fifty-fifty; even match; tie
shooting down (an aircraft)
roll (e.g. of cloth); winding (e.g. watch); volume (of book); speeding up; heel (of a Japanese sandal)
long and narrow; lanky; gangling; spindly
boo! (sound used to scare someone); ugh (dissatisfaction, aggravation); ulp (consternation)
bustling; shuffling; squirming; creepy crawly
division of work; sharing out the work; splitting into groups (e.g. to search for someone); separating into parties
walking stick (any insect of order Phasmatodea); walkingstick; stick insect; leaf insect
nature; the natural world; realm of nature
scratch; graze; scrape; minor damage
endless; boundless; innumerable; endless; never-ending; going on forever
partition; division; separation; segmenting; splitting
antlion (larva); doodlebug; antlion pit
eyeball; special feature; centerpiece; special program; loss leader; sunny-side up fried egg
fresh (e.g. fish); lively; spirited; animated
pearls thrown before swine; unused possession; useless possession; waste of talent
(trend of) the times; current of the times; spirit of the age
skeleton; skeletal structure; build; framework
self-destruction; ruining oneself; natural decay; perishing naturally
want to ... do something; would like to ...
all things must pass; all worldly things are impermanent
paying for one's mistakes; getting one's just deserts; suffering the consequences (of one's own actions); reap what you sow
to have (a) potential for ...; to have it in one to do
point of action (e.g. of a lever)