conversation (just) between you and me; confidential talk
to lower one's voice; to speak with a hushed voice
totalization; totalisation; aggregation; tally (e.g. of votes); adding up; summing up
questionnaire; survey; poll
deep regret; great disappointment
far and away the best; the very best; cream of the crop; crème de la crème; decisive lead; commanding lead
running alone; running solo; having a large lead (over the others); being far ahead (of everyone else); having one's own way; ignoring others' opinions and acting as one wishes
(eligible) voter; elector; holder of a right; rightsholder; bigwig; person with political clout
grave; solemn; serious; harsh (e.g. truth); hard; strict
judgement; judgment; decision; adjudication; award; verdict
first place; first rank; unit's position; Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata)
right away; without delay; as soon as possible; very soon
narrow margin; slim margin
final game; final games; the finals
to become better; to improve
mumblingly; mutteringly; unintelligibly
to pass (e.g. car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to get ahead of
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
to take off; to jump; to take the plunge; to decide; to step out of the ring
to sit; to squat; to assume (a position); to hold steady; to hold still
chicken; coward; scaredy-cat; chicken
to keep company; to listen to; to associate with; to play against (e.g. a team); to take on (e.g. a rival)
book; document; calligraphy (esp. Chinese); penmanship; handwriting; letter
feeling of tension; air of tension; tension; nervousness
eyes; expression of the eyes; area around the eyes; skin round one's eyes
(with a) click (e.g. camera shutter); (with a) snap
master; Your lordship; My lord; husband
texture (e.g. skin, fabric); grain (e.g. wood); detail
quickly, suddenly (while one is watching); before one's eyes
assistance; help; aid; support; reinforcement
mismatched; odd; irregular; inconsistent; incoherent; confused
to beat someone at their own game; to outdo someone in their specialty