gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
to run out of; to dry up; to be depleted; to hit the bottom; to bottom out
soon; shortly; before long; having no time to ...; with no time to ...
to twine around; to twist around; to coil around; to pester; to hassle
tightly; closely; exactly; precisely; suddenly (stopping)
to have the personal support of (an influential person); to be under the patronage of
to have an idea; to have a clue
happening; (unexpected) incident; unforeseen event; surprising occurrence
to create (a sensation); to give rise to (controversy)
state of emergency; emergency; crisis
make one wrong move and...; take one wrong step and...
maintenance; preservation; improvement
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)
option; selecting an option; optional extra; individual item; separate item; option
panic; scare; alarm; panic; financial panic
to put one's strength into
to be strangled; to be constricted
swim ring; swimming ring; life buoy; life belt; life preserver; lifesaver
to stick to; to cling to; to adhere to; to become intimate (of a man and woman); to get close; to get married
to be able to manage somehow or another
cliff edge; edge of a precipice; perilous position; critical moment; brink
scene; setting; scene (in a movie, play); shot; state of the market
bright light; hope; bright future; light emanating from a buddha or bodhisattva, symbolizing their wisdom and compassion
maximum; to the maximum degree; to the full
international; diplomatic intercourse
reason; cause; circumstances
weight; heavyweight boxer
ball not bouncing (e.g. in a catch)
accurate; correct; precise; exact
wonder; admiration; being struck with admiration
to be imminent; to loom; to be approaching; to be impending
tool; implement; means; furniture
small-format paperback book; pocket paperback
to turn over; to turn pages of a book; to tear off; to strip off; to tear up
simple; artless; naive; unsophisticated
soft (and fluffy) (e.g. bed, bread, baked potato); (arch.) absent-mindedly
sleeping comfort or snugness
something's wrong (with someone); not right (in the head); not oneself; crazy; nuts