few; a little; scarce; insufficient; seldom
considerably; not a little; in no small numbers
to lessen; to decrease; to diminish
to be lacking in options; to be too few
to a greater or lesser extent (degree); more or less
somewhat below; slightly below
laconic; of few words; reticent; quiet
not a little; not a few; considerable
insufficient (money, etc.)
all pain and no gain; lots of pain and not much gain
slow and steady wins the race; there is luck in the last helping
those who resort to blandishments and fawning smiles are apt to lack compassion
not negligible; not a little; to no small degree; to no small extent; quite a lot