to pin (someone) down; to hold down; to shut out (one's opponent); to keep (the opposing team) from scoring; to suppress; to control
one's every action; every single move
a few hours; several hours; a couple of hours
arbitrariness; self-will; whim
space; room; unused land; room (for reconsideration, doubt, etc.); leeway; margin
unexpectedly; surprisingly
nothing one can say (e.g. about something perfect); not a thing one can complain about; better than one could hope for
clever; smart; sharp (ear, etc.); sensitive; discerning
to sense; to suspect; to get an inkling (of something); to get wind of; to smell (e.g. danger); to become aware of (e.g. a plot)
by any standard; (not) even as flattery
outstanding; excellent; exceptional; distinguished; unrivaled; surpassing (e.g. beauty)
bad behavior; misbehavior
opposition; resistance; insubordination; defiance; hostility; rebellion
to be saved up (of money)
to look down on; to make light of
tendency; trend; inclination
results; record; grades; marks
a little; some; somewhat; amount; quantity; number
it hasn't been long since
inferior position; inferior situation; disadvantage; subordination
very difficult to ...; nearly impossible to ...
superiority; predominance
trivial; trifling; slight; insignificant
falling out (with); quarrel; discord; estrangement; being on bad terms
to stop communicating; to never be heard from again; to disappear; to go missing
event; affair; incident; case; plot; trouble
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
to choose the best; to select carefully; to handpick
disappearance; vanishing; loss; dying away; wearing off
spot; point; place; position
(surprise) attack; assault; raid; charge
first; preliminary; primary (sources, industry, etc.); original; linear (function, equation); first-order
to trample down; to tread on; to ignore; to spurn
before one's very eyes; under one's nose; imminence; close at hand
(social) position; status; standing; position (in a company, organization, etc.); post; rank
sense of loss; feeling of loss
to go to the top; to climb to the top; to ascend to the top; to be engrossed in; to be very enthusiastic about; to be infatuated with
feeling; sensation; tentative; rough; interjection
to taste; to savor; to appreciate; to enjoy; to experience; to go through
way of saying (something); way of putting it; wording; phrasing; language; expression
right; correct; proper; righteous; just
to accept (e.g. an explanation); to be satisfied (with); to assent (to)