to show mercy or give an opponent a way out; to treat a wrongdoer with indulgence rather than full severity

to assume personal responsibility; to take charge of a section or department independently

an account or argument that reflects only one side of a dispute or story

overwhelmingly dominant on one side, especially describing a competition or situation where the balance is heavily skewed

to have met only once; a person with whom one has a very slight or casual acquaintance