second; number two; runner-up
to spur on; to urge forward; to impel; to drive at high speed (e.g. a car)
honorable death; death without surrender; honorable defeat; trying but being utterly beaten; being completely rejected when professing one's love
to lie in wait (for); to be on the watch (for); to wait (for); to watch (for)
gunport; embrasure; muzzle
to fly about; to flutter about; to flit about; to fly past each other
to be preeminent; to be outstanding
obstacle; hindrance; impediment; difficulty
scary; frightening; eerie; dreadful
slim; slender; lithe; smoothly; without resistance; without trouble
(in the) palm of someone's hand; (under) someone's complete control; (at) someone's mercy
rough estimate; rough calculation; expectation; anticipation; plan
as one would expect from ...; given that ... (naturally ...); precisely because ...; all the more because of ...; on account of ...; ... being what it is
waiting to see one's opponent's move before doing anything (e.g. as a disallowed act in rock, paper, scissors); bringing something up after the fact; revealing something afterwards; holding back until the last minute
absurd; unreasonable; rash; reckless; excessive; immoderate
energy; vigor; vigour; vitality
in an instant; instantly; in a moment; instantaneously; in the twinkling of an eye
putting one's life on the line; giving everything one has got; acting out of desperation
sink or swim; all or nothing; hit or miss; make or break
win or lose; sink or swim; make or break; all or nothing
stake all (on something); play for all or nothing; throwing all into a task
do-or-die game; crucial contest
lower region; lower part; region below
structure; construction; makeup; framework; organization; pattern
there it is; there it comes; got it; of course; it figures; I knew it
play; playing; game; play and dance (at a kindergarten or elementary school)
a few seconds; several seconds
to make up (a deficiency); to supplement; to add to; to put towards
one shot; one charge; one blow; one punch; home run; one try; one attempt
versatility; multiplicity of use
extensive; vast range; wide scope
glitter; glimmer; sparkle; twinkle; twinkling; glistening
attenuation; damping; decay
to some degree; up to a point; to some extent
to become weak; to decline; to wear; to abate; to decay; to wither
wall iris; roof iris; Iris tectorum; fleur-de-lis
moment; brief space of time
passage; path; route; one's way
or something; for instance ... (though there are other suitable options); ... or ...; as soon as; right after; while still
to succeed; to bear fruit
spreading around (news, etc.); talking about widely; noising about; circulating
as usual; as always; as ever; as before; still