slowly (but steadily); gradually; bit-by-bit; slowly soaking in; slowly permeating; oozing out
(establishing a) big lead; (winning by a) huge margin; breaking away (from the field)
beginning; start; first (in line, etc.); origin; such as ...; not to mention ...
person with a lot of experience; old hand; veteran (in a particular field)
to continue (for a long time); to occur in succession; to come next (e.g. on TV)
gradually; steadily; slowly; little by little; step by step; by degrees
warrior; soldier; courageous person; strong person
brilliant achievement; spectacular feat; splendid accomplishment; remarkable deed
wish; desire; hope; prospect; expectation; (one's) hopes
running continuously; firing in rapid succession
order; rank; position (e.g. in a race); precedence
hidden reserves of strength; latent energy; potentiality; real strength
easy victory; walkover; easy peasy; child's play; cakewalk
slapping; splashing; splatting; banging shut; flat (refusal, denial, etc.)
to speak; to talk; to mediate; to act as a go-between; to put in a good word (for someone)
whispering; murmuring; subdued
to shine; to glow; to look attractive; to look nice; to be set off (by)
futility; waste; uselessness; pointlessness; idleness
flute; fife; pipe; whistle
perhaps; likely; probably; I dare say
to rot; to go bad; to corrode; to weather; to become useless; to blunt; to become depraved
to reject; to repulse; to repel; to bounce back; to counterattack; to strike back
to become muddy; to become cloudy; to become dull (of a sound, color, etc.); to become hoarse; to become impure (of a heart, society, etc.); to be corrupted
change; transformation; inversion
the last moment; the very end
astonishment; amazement; surprise; fright; shock
to point; to nominate; to select someone; to identify; to indicate; to play (a game of shogi)
front stage; center stage (of politics, etc.)
immovable; motionless; firm; Acala (Wisdom King); Fudō; fierce Buddhist deity
last; final; closing; last train (bus, flight, etc.; of the day)
regretful; sorrowful; bitter; contrition
to stand on tiptoe; to rise in the world; to become arrogant
(being) out of range (e.g. mobile network, radar, missiles); (being) out of contention; (being) beyond influence
last; final; end; conclusion; rust
sink or swim; all or nothing; hit or miss; make or break