skirmish

Object

• order: The Cardigan men had tried a rush, in skirmishing order, at the pit, simply to be swept out of existence.

Converse of object

• fight: In Stockbridge, which is 8 miles from Winchester, Robert Earl of Gloucester, was fighting a skirmish.
• win: We can win these skirmishes - in many cases, they have already been won.
• follow: At first, after you've collected your thoughts following the initial skirmish, you'll just admire the scenery.
• have: The military latterly had a skirmish in the affair.

Adjective modifier

• minor: His attention was caught by a minor skirmish in a little place called England.
• preliminary: After a few preliminary skirmishes, she had lost patience and reacted.
• bloody: After this battle, he was forced back into Virginia in a series of bloody skirmishes.
• brief: Outside the room, he heard a brief skirmish ending with an infuriated squeal - female.
• numerous: It also has been known on occasion to exercise its military might in numerous skirmishes around the region over the last two centuries.
• initial: At first, after you've collected your thoughts following the initial skirmish, you'll just admire the scenery.

Modifies a noun

• mode: This is especially noticeable in the quick battle skirmish mode where your computer opponent seems hell bent on using the same tactic every time.
• game: This high-quality skirmish game is playable right out of the box.
• line: The groups would usually form a loose ' skirmish line ' with visual contact maintained between each element.

Noun used with modifier

• border: Occasional border skirmishes have flared up, leading to the establishment of a joint commission of investigation.
• opening: The mesmeric theater of the sales season also has its opening skirmish here.

Preposition: in

• battle: So what can we learn from the latest skirmish in the battle of the giants?
• war: It is potentially the first skirmishes in a war which will tear apart the West and the Arab world.

Preposition: with

• enemy: You enter the battle wounded, and every skirmish with the enemy means that you get more healed.
• police: Early morning road blockades and skirmishes with riot police resulted in a real headache for them and only a handful of activists arrested.