delay; lag; postponement; falling behind
beginning of hostilities; beginning of competition
to establish a lead; to distinguish (between); to ascertain or tell the difference (between); to discriminate
dropping out; falling behind; omission; being left out; falling off; coming off
discouragement; despondency; dejection; disappointment
with my own (two) eyes; with these very eyes
not only ... but also; in addition to; consequently
comprehension; understanding
is never the case; has never happened
(find) common (meeting) ground
to rub together; to reconcile (ideas, proposals, plans); to compare and adjust
life or death; existence; destiny
finally; after; following; at the end (of)
self-; from ...; this ... (in contrast to some other ...); aforementioned
furthermore; adding to the above-mentioned; not quite; not very good; lacking
to hate the very sight of; to hold a grudge against; to treat like an enemy; to bear constant enmity; to be gunning for; to have it in for
exactly the same; exactly as is; without any change
to brave a danger; to take a risk
in the fire; in the flames; (arch.) burning (something)
to switch (secretly); to substitute; to sidestep (an issue)
infancy; childish; infantile; immature
evening meal; supper; dinner
left utterly helpless; have no one to turn to; unapproachable
start; beginning; build up; how well a pitcher pitches at the start of the game
wicked person; evil person; scoundrel; bad thing; mischief
feigned ignorance; pretending not to recognize (somebody); unconcerned air; indifference
penetration; absolutely clear; not dirty; clearness
difference; disagreement; conflict; clash; discrepancy; inconsistency
provocative; incendiary; inflammatory; suggestive; lascivious; risqué
large part; greater part; people in general; general public; mostly; for the most part
specific; particular; designated; specifying; designating; identifying
intelligence or information network
clear as day; perfectly obvious; plain as daylight
having in mind; happening to know of; idea
threat; bird-scaring device (scarecrow, gun, etc.)
to run swiftly; to dash; to rush; to race
to fail; to blunder; to mess up; to be dismissed; to be fired
coercion; extortion; compulsion; force