contrary to expectations; or so we thought, but ...
to sit at a desk (to study); to be at one's desk; to set to work on revision, homework, etc.
to grow hot (e.g. water); to boil; to get excited (at); to erupt (in applause, cheering, etc.); to ferment; to melt (of metal)
at once; immediately; right now
to write down; to make a note of; to put on record; to chronicle
to look (stare) back at (someone); to look at again; to re-examine; to prove oneself superior (to someone who had previously been condescending); to put a person to shame; to look back (behind oneself)
astounding; tremendous; wild; crazy; exorbitant; outrageous
to meddle (in someone's affairs); to poke one's nose into; to interfere; to make a pass (at someone); to hit on
scrawl; scribble; graffiti; doodle
one copy (of a book, magazine, etc.); one volume
to render futile; to bring to naught; to waste; to not make good use of
entering; entrance; attendance; audience; containing; income; earnings
to buy; to purchase; to buy out
hopping; skipping; lightly and repeatedly jumping
jump; jumping event (skiing, track and field); jumping (to another page after clicking a hyperlink); jump (in price); sudden rise
to consider others' feelings; to sympathize with someone's feelings
such; this sort of; like this
to take good care of; to treasure; to value; to hold dear; to prize; to cherish
special order (goods); custom (made); bespoke
mysterious thief; phantom thief
to steal; to plagiarize; to steal (a technique, idea, etc.); to do stealthily; to do during scant time; to steal a base
strict; severe; stringent; rigorous; rigid; firm
whether one likes it or not; willy-nilly
on the one hand ... (and on the other ...); on one side
prior engagement; previous appointment; prior agreement; previous promise; previous contract
highest grade; finest quality; top class; superlative (degree)
to compete with; to vie for
to write down; to record; to register
encouragement; spurring (on); cheering (on)
party (social gathering); party (group of people participating in an activity, esp. mountain climbing); (political) party
event held the night before another event; eve (of a festival) (e.g. Christmas Eve)
to become less crowded; to thin out; to get empty; to be hungry
fear; dread; fright; terror; trepidation; panic
to jump up and down; to hop
to support each other; to support one another
to become possible; to become able to (do)
growth; development; growing up; growth (of a company, the economy, etc.)
to appear; to come in sight; to become visible; to be expressed (e.g. emotions); to become apparent (e.g. trends, effects)
called; known as; that; to say