lame excuses

weighing and measuring

little by little, by degrees

very carefully

strict or exact account

who or what arises, appears, rising (as the sun, the moon) arising, appearing

fry

hide-and-seek, a children's game in which a group of children hide in secret places and then one child has to go to look for them

see which way the wind blows, don't hurry, work with patience and restraint, wait for the result

add fuel to the fire

bitter oil, mustard-seed oil

approaching war time, to fight

reference to a learned man in an unsuitable or inferior job

fan the fire, incite trouble

rising (of the sun, the moon or other heavenly bodies), sunrise, moonrise

be over-solicitous for something

a favourite can get away with anything, a favourite's error is tolerated

be ready, being fully engaged or ready for a task

to assume length, to be drawn out, to be or become prolonged, to extend far or a long way