circumstances; sequence of events; how things got this way; details; particulars
securing; obtaining; ensuring; belay; belaying
to catch (a wild animal or fish); to capture; to hunt; to win (a title, prize, etc.); to conquer
in proportion to; just as much as
grasping one's chopsticks the same way one might hold a walking stick (a breach of etiquette)
collection (of fees, taxes, etc.); levy
far and away the best; the very best; cream of the crop; crème de la crème; decisive lead; commanding lead
being the sole winner; beating everyone else; winner-take-all; mostly alone; mostly by oneself
craze; frenzy; enthusiasm
to often be the case; to occur frequently; to be common; to be popular
white clothes; white robe; white gown (worn by doctors, chemists, etc.); commoner without rank (in ancient China); layperson
absent-mindedly; absently; idly; in a subdued voice; in undertones; in a whisper
noisy; loud; annoying; troublesome; fussy; finicky
sudden change; complete change
colouring; coloring; sex appeal (esp. of women); sexiness; interest in the opposite sex; sexual feelings; charm
deep place; depths; depth; profundity
to fit; to get into; to be fit for (a job, etc.); to be suited for; to fall into; to plunge into
stabbing (repeatedly); piercing; (words) cutting to the heart; striking home; loose; sloppy
movie set; filming location
to be present (esp. during a birth); to be witness to; to attend
counter for people (usu. seating, reservations and such); first name; famous; great; name; noun
to drain; to pour; to float (e.g. logs down a river); to set adrift; to wash away; to carry away; to broadcast
to run away; to flee; to avoid (a question, responsibility, etc.); to evade; to win without being overtaken; to hold off the other contenders (until the finish)
decrepitude; (being) rickety; (state of) falling apart; looseness (in machinery); play
chair; seat; stool; post; position; seat
calm; quiet; gentle; moderate; reasonable; amicable
tedious; boring; dull; to feel bored; to get bored (with); to get tired (of)
interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for)
sour look; surly face; pout
to turn away; to face away; to ignore; to be uncooperative; to be unconciliatory
to become hoarse; to become husky
falling lightly (e.g. snow, petals, confetti); fluttering; flickering; twinkling; appearing and disappearing; catching glimpses
development; evolution; expansion; spreading out; expansion (of an algebraic expression); development (of a three-dimensional shape); extraction (of compressed data)
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
competition; contest; rivalry; competition (between organisms or species)
faint; indistinct; dim; vague; subtle; delicate
to be flustered; to lose one's presence of mind
heat; fever; temperature; zeal; passion
to catch; to capture; to grasp (e.g. meaning); to perceive; to captivate; to move (one's heart)
to avoid meeting someone's gaze; to not look someone in the eyes
rule violation; rule infraction; infringement of the rules
to respond; to answer; to accept (an invitation, offer, etc.); to comply with (a request, etc.); to suit; to match