strong person; person putting on a brave front; bamboo tube with holes drilled in it (used as a stand for kitchen utensils, fans, etc.); checks; plaid
weak point; vulnerable point; Achilles' heel
on the contrary; far from it; if anything; in fact; instead
many; numerous; large amount of; large quantity of; frequent; common
frustrated (over a failure, humiliation or injustice); annoyed; chagrined; (bitterly) disappointed; bitter; vexed
with a feeling of relief; with a sigh of relief; deeply (sigh)
to be relieved; to feel relieved
terrible; dreadful; amazing (e.g. of strength); great (e.g. of skills); to a great extent; vast (in numbers)
when; at what time; how soon; normal times; ordinary days
opposition; resistance; antagonism; reverse; opposite; inverse
to hold between (e.g. one's fingers, chopsticks); to grip (from both sides); to put between; to sandwich between; to catch (e.g. a finger in a door); to trap; to insert (e.g. a break into proceedings)
courage; bravery; valour; valor; nerve; boldness
companion; fellow; group; company; member of the same category (family, class)
probability; likelihood; chances
below; down; bottom; beneath; underneath; just after; right after
swordsman; swordswoman; fencer
direct; immediate; personal; firsthand
fighting (against); taking on (an opponent); facing; confronting; competing (with); battle
special; particular; extraordinary; exceptional; especial
to guess; to sense; to presume; to sympathize with; to sympathise with
to dig your own grave; to bring calamity upon oneself; to put your foot in it
have to (verb); must (verb); is indispensable; absolutely necessary
as usual; as always; as before; as ever; still
but then; although; though; reasonable; natural; just
without; unless; have to do
pearls thrown before swine; unused possession; useless possession; waste of talent
able; capable; competent; talented; efficient
life; life force; lifetime; lifespan; most important thing; foundation
riskiness; (level of) danger
genuine article; real thing; real deal
important person; influential figure; big shot; big thing; big one; big game
leading aristocrat; great house; grand seigneur; boyar
short pause; short interval
to declare; to assert; to say bluntly; to say straight out
to appease; to suppress; to calm
supreme ruler; conqueror; champion; winner; titleholder
outrageous; monstrous; appalling; inordinate; overambitious