sparse; thin; scattered; straggling; sporadic
all members; all hands; everyone; everybody; whole crew
impossible proposition; unreasonable proposal; tall order
friend; ally; supporter; taking sides with; supporting; standing by
at this juncture; after all this time; at this stage; now
questioning; interrogation; examination (of a witness)
to continue; to keep up; to keep on
place; room; margin; scope
creaking; squeaking; packing in tightly; cramming; hard (pressing, tying, twisting, etc.); tightly
group (of people); crowd; horde; throng; mob; multitude
the person in question; prominent figure; distinguished person; that person
to thrust down; to push off
resistance; opposition; reluctance; repulsion; resistance; drag
completely; absolutely; (not) at all; (not) a bit; earnestly; intently
armchair; chair with arm rests; senior staff
notebook; copy-book; note; noting down; (musical) note; laptop (computer)
to turn over; to turn pages of a book; to tear off; to strip off; to tear up
form; shape; figure; visage
to collapse; to crumble; to get out of shape; to lose one's shape; to break down; to be thrown into disarray; to crash (stock market)
business; affairs; duties; work; procedure; task
person in charge; senior staff; manager; chief; head
funny; amusing; strange; odd; improper; unsuitable
to cramp up; to tighten; to be insistent; to persist (in one's opinion); to act tough; to bluff; to prop up (e.g. with a post)
fit; spasm; attack; seizure
to solicit; to demand; to extort
some people; a few people; several people
power; authority; jurisdiction
to reach; to amount to; to be up to the task; to come up to; to compare with; to be a match (for)
recompense; indemnity; atonement
to rise; to go up; to enter (esp. from outdoors); to come in; to enter (a school); to advance to the next grade; to get out (of water)
to threaten; to terrify; to frighten
in tufts; tufty; bushy; thick; luxuriant
to make; to produce; to prepare (food); to brew (alcohol); to raise; to grow; to till
on a stage; on a platform; on an altar
tumult; great noise; clatter; hustle and bustle
here and there; in twos and threes; sporadically; now and then; from time to time; occasionally