gas; vapour; vapor; gaseous body
reduction (in size); shrinking; minimization; trivializing (an issue); making light of; playing down
status; position; method; way; rule; regulation
remarks; comments; way of talking; speaking style; excuse; topic (of conversation)
small insect; midge; vermicule
bulging; swelling (e.g. with water); loose-fitting or baggy (clothing); bubbling; foaming
always having a comeback; fast-talking
out of the question; outrageous; impossible; irrelevant; not pertinent
solution; solution strategy
not having enough workers; being understaffed; being undermanned; having nothing one can do about something; having no options
just right; ideal; perfectly suitable; fetch!; bring me ...
a few minutes later; after a few minutes
to overstep the mark; to go too far; to overdo it
primeval; primordial; primitive; pristine
whether or not; presence or absence
to squash; to crush; to flatten
to shift one's attention to; to shift one's focus on
working overtime; detention; being kept in (e.g. after school)
(you) couldn't kill (him) if you tried
tenacious; tough; enduring; dogged; headstrong; stubborn
internal (e.g. disk); built-in; equipped (with)
insignificant; inconsequential; trifling; negligible; of little importance
roots of grass; (fig.) places hidden from sight; grassroots (e.g. of a political party); rank and file
willpower; energy; vitality
without leaving any trace
means of transportation; transport service
elastic; elastic cord; elastic band