nest; rookery; den; haunt; (spider's) web
carefree; comfortable; at ease; easygoing; happy-go-lucky
some; (a) little; somewhat; to some extent; in part
to be distracted from feelings of depression, boredom, tension, etc.
to lose focus; to let one's mind wander; to relax one's attention
captain; commander; commanding officer; leader
the expectation is that ...; the reason is that ...; the fact is that ...; the explanation is that ...; it is that ...
to throw at; to turn; to raise
delivering an order; dispatch of an order; messenger; orderly; runner
summons; subpoena; citation; summoning (a spirit, demon, etc.); evocation; invocation
collecting; accumulating; collection (of art, stamps, insects, etc.); garbage collection; waste collection
to shut; to close; to block (a street, entrance, etc.); to shut in (with snow, ice, etc.); to shut off; to consume (with negative feelings)
measuring by feel; adjusting by feel; doing by feel; adapting to the situation (one's strength, strictness, etc.); making allowances; using discretion
to forestall; to beat to the punch; to anticipate; to play the first move (e.g. in go)
direction; district; area; field (e.g. of study); sphere; quarter
sharpness; cutting ability; quickness (of wit); incisiveness; peppiness (of a ball)
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext; excuse; grounds (for)
worry; fear; anxiety; concern
everything; for (to) everything; (in) anything
elegance; grace; article; item; counter for items (of food, etc.); counter for dishes or courses (at a restaurant)
at the most; at best; to the utmost; as much as possible; as much as one can
field in which one acts unchallenged; unrivaled sphere of activity; one's monopoly
comparatively; relatively
protracted war; war of attrition
to change places (with); to be replaced (with, by); to be changed; to change (seats, shifts, etc.; with someone); to switch; to exchange
clicking one's tongue; tut-tut; smacking one's lips (with relish)
first-rate; finest quality; the best
to have one's attention caught (by); to be distracted (by); to be preoccupied (with); to be captivated (by); to be absorbed (in)
fall; decline; lowering; deterioration; degradation
serviceman; servicewoman; soldier; member of the armed forces; military personnel
difference; disparity; gap
to take aim (at); to set one's sights (on); to zero in (on)
to bring down (an animal, opponent, etc.); to kill; to shoot dead; to shoot down
throwaway; disposable; single-use
thin; slender; fine; unlucky
wasteful; a waste; too good; more than one deserves; impious; profane
fat; tallow; lard; grease
small fish; small fry; (a) nobody; small fry; noob; weak player
to stick into (of something with a sharp point); to prick; to pierce; to resonate emotionally; to move
sanity; consciousness; soberness