to put a damper on proceedings (at a meeting, party, etc.)
atmosphere; mood; a certain air; presence; (Earth's) atmosphere
hard problem; person hard to please; hard nut to crack
to check; to stop; to keep back
fervour; fervor; vigour; vigor; ardour; ardor
to chip (off); to shave (off); to slice (off); to dampen (e.g. enthusiasm); to discourage; to weaken
manner of speaking; verbal argument; objection; protesting a decision (esp. that of a sumo referee); rumor; rumour
rare; extraordinary; singular
outstanding talent; person of exceptional talent; gifted person
to be a good match for; to stand a chance against; to be able to compete with; to hold one's own
chance (of success); odds
equal (in ability); even; evenly matched; well-matched; on par (with)
crossing; passage; importing; import; wandering; wanderer; migration
bizarre plan; perplexing strategy; outlandish scheme
to hold in one's arms; to bring over a person to one's side; to involve
to raise; to lift; to hang up; to raise prices (artificially, deliberately)
to pull; to draw; to string (lines); to run (cable); to pull towards oneself (e.g. someone's sleeve); to drag; to haul
to incline toward; to slant; to lurch; to go down (sun); to wane; to sink
lone wolf; loner; self-reliant person
indicates uncertainty or second hand nature of information quoted
to disappear; to vanish; to abscond; to decamp
aimlessly; by chance; accidentally; casually; suddenly; unexpectedly
genuine; real; full-scale; full-blown; full-fledged; professional
no sooner than; as soon as; immediately after; at the thought of; when I think about
means of making contact; intermediary; go-between; connections; influence; pull
to lay in stock; to replenish stock; to procure; to learn; to find out; to take in
to be amazed; to be shocked; to be astonished; to be astounded; to be disgusted; to be exasperated
front-facing; forward-looking; positive; constructive
come on; hurry up; chop chop; yeah; that's right; exactly
dissuasion (from resigning, leaving, etc.); persuading (to stay)
alma mater clique; old school tie
first generation; founder
in the mountains; among the mountains
tuft (of hair, threads, etc.); fringe; bunch (of grapes, bananas, etc.); cluster (of flowers); segment (of a tangerine, etc.); section
soil; breeding ground; fertile ground (for); foundation (for the development of ...)
hereabouts; around there; that area
foreign; abroad; overseas
launching out; embarking upon (a career)