to start; to begin; to challenge; to pick (a fight); to set (traps); to plant (explosives)
to relax; to release tension from one's muscles; to let go limp
sensational; inflammatory; incendiary; (sexually) suggestive; lascivious
to brush gently; to stroke; to caress
toy; (person or thing treated as a) plaything
opposition; resistance; insubordination; defiance; hostility; rebellion
to make (someone) understand (a fault, mistake, etc.); to reason with; to advise; to try to persuade; to exhort; to admonish
to talk back; to answer back; to retort; to say over; to repeat (what one has said)
contrary to one's expectations
to be choked up; to be crushed (emotionally); to be overcome (with emotion); to be shocked; to be horrified
half-dead; state of uncertainty; limbo; leaving unfinished with the intention of inflicting suffering
going backward; turning back; backtracking; regression; retrogression; relapse
one digit; one column; the "ones" column
honorable death; death without surrender; honorable defeat; trying but being utterly beaten; being completely rejected when professing one's love
to hang one's head; to look down; to cast one's eyes downward
to arrive at (e.g. a decision); to reach (a stage); to lead to (a place); to get to; in the extreme case of; (arch.) to come
to stagnate; to settle (at the bottom); to deposit; to become sluggish; to become dull; to be delayed
with all one's strength; with might and main; as hard as one can
to destroy; to break (by striking); to smash; to ruin (a plan, atmosphere, etc.); to spoil; to wreck
time of setting (sun, moon, etc.)
to pile up; to stack up; to accumulate
it does not mean that ...; I don't mean that ...; it is not the case that
partial; incomplete; imperfect
to change; to alter; to reform; to correct; to examine; to check
rain intensity; passing shower; streaks of pouring rain
strategic withdrawal; strategic retreat
way out; means to escape; escape route
another kind; different kind; distinct species
negligent; careless; slipshod; slovenly; reckless; irresponsible
to hold back (e.g. emotions); to rein in (e.g. a horse, unruly people); to get the better of; to control; to command
to turn away; to bear off; to veer away; to deviate (e.g. of a conversation); to digress; to go astray
just right (time, size, length, etc.)
self-hatred; self-abhorrence; self-loathing
possible; conceivable; likely; probable
it cannot be that ...; it is highly unlikely that ...; it is impossible that ...
to laugh; to smile; to sneer; to ridicule; to be dumbfounded; to be flabbergasted
to reconsider; to rethink; to reassess
stepping back; drawing back