crawling on all fours; being on all fours; being on one's hands and knees
to pull (the puppet) strings; to direct things from behind the scenes; to stretch out (and keep going); to linger on
to forestall; to beat to the punch; to anticipate; to play the first move (e.g. in go)
to let (something or someone) go past; to do too much
attitude; posture; preparedness; readiness
subject; theme; homework; assignment; problem (that needs solving); task
if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle
while moving; on the move
forces of opposition; opposing forces; counterforce
emergency; extreme; great; extraordinary
rare; uncommon; new; novel; fine; nice
to hold the steering wheel; to drive (a car)
dark; gloomy; somber; depressing
(all) through (e.g. the night); throughout (e.g. the year); within (e.g. the week); in the course of (e.g. today); all over; throughout (e.g. the world)
before very long; soon; someday; of the previously mentioned; of that number; among them
to protect; to guard; to defend; to keep (i.e. a promise); to abide (by the rules); to observe
to be lost (e.g. luggage); to be missing; to be used up; to be run out; to disappear (e.g. pain); to be lost (e.g. a dream, confidence)
(traffic) congestion; traffic jam; gridlock; delay; stagnation
handle; steering wheel; handlebar; handlebars; handle; screen name
back lane; byway; back street; unfair means; dishonest means
national road; national highway
flow rate (esp. water or electricity); quantity of flow; capacity (of output or throughput per unit time)
roadway; road; carriageway
sudden death; unexpected death; (game-ending) blunder
great numbers; numerical superiority
gradually becoming poor; situation getting gradually worse and worse
to change (one's clothes)
(thick) scarf; muffler; muffler (for a vehicle exhaust); silencer
somewhat thick; relatively thick; thickish; on the thick side
to open (e.g. doors); to open (e.g. business, etc.); to be empty; to be vacant; to be available; to be open (e.g. neckline, etc.); to have been opened (of one's eyes, mouth, etc.)
(around the) neck; nape; collar (at the front of a coat, kimono, etc.); collar area
to smile cheerfully; to crack a smile
entirely; completely; cleanly; snugly
to fit into (a box, frame, category, etc.); to be contained within; to settle down (into); to be installed (in one's rightful place); to settle into (one's position); to take up (a post); to be delivered
contrast; juxtaposition; comparison; correlation (of strata)
extra; more; unnecessary; needless; all the more; even more
of late; lately; this part; this point; here