declining; refusal; nonacceptance; turning down; withdrawal (e.g. of candidacy); pulling out (e.g. of a race)
laying the groundwork; behind-the-scenes maneuvering; consensus-building process; digging around the roots of a tree (before transplanting)
on a stage; on a platform; on an altar
narrow margin; slim margin
third-year student; third-year pupil
exceptional; unusual; extraordinary; unprecedented; singular
successive generations; successive emperors
useless; no future in it; doesn't make sense; having no point
to establish a lead; to distinguish (between); to ascertain or tell the difference (between); to discriminate
course (of a road, moving object, etc.); way; course (of events, action, etc.); direction (e.g. an argument is heading in); reasoning; logic
to come back; to bloom a second time
dream within a dream; (beyond) one's wildest dreams; entirely unrealizable dream; pie in the sky
look (in someone's eyes); expression (of the eyes); eyes
to outwit; to outmanoeuvre; to steal a march on; to get the jump on; to anticipate; to forestall
meeting; conference; session; assembly; council; convention
as a matter of fact; to tell the truth
push; pushing (someone to do something); pressuring; pushing (an update, content, etc.); push (stack operation)
since; for the past ... (e.g. ten years); this person; this gentleman
recommendation; referral; endorsement
sentimental; on an emotional level; in one's heart
firm promise; definite promise
second-year student; second-year pupil; biennial; biennial plant
achievement; performance; results; work; contribution
insurance; guarantee; warranty
to read (a book); to open (a book) to read; to unravel (e.g. a mystery); to discover (the truth)
not counted (in the score); not tallied
next term; next period; next version; next release
to stop; to turn off; to park; to prevent; to suppress (a cough); to stop (someone from doing something); to dissuade
studying abroad; (temporarily) studying at another school (to learn a specific skill)
outstanding talent; person of exceptional talent; gifted person
(police) lineup; identification parade; choice of faces
being elected; winning a prize (in a lottery, raffle, etc.); being selected (for a prize, etc.)
degree of recognition; level of familiarity; visibility (product)
even; for starters; so; therefore; judging from; based on
to sit up straight; to straighten one's posture; to straighten up
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
only recently; just of late
to hit (e.g. one's head); to strike; to throw (at); to fling (at); to vent (e.g. one's anger); to express (one's feelings)
deliberately; intentionally; on purpose; purposely
water ball; large inflatable sphere that allows a person inside it to walk across the surface of a body of water