little by little / step by step

little by little : gradually, slowly (also: step by step)

• Karen's health seems to be improving little by little.
• If you study regularly each day, step by step your vocabulary will increase.

Sympathetic

Sympathetic (adj): concerned, caring

• Judge Cruz was sympathetic to the lawyer's plea* for mercy.
• Father was fortunately* sympathetic to my request to use the car on weekends.
• We were all sympathetic to Suzanne over her recent* misfortune*.

soothe

soothe : quiet; calm; comfort

• With an embrace*, the mother soothed the hurt child.
• Heat soothes some aches; Cold soothe others.
• Rosalie's nerves were soothed by the soft music.

all along

all along: all the time, from the beginnig ( without change)

• She knew all along that we'd never agree with his plan.
• You're smiling! Did you know all along that I'd give you a bithday present?

Tempest

Tempest: storm

• The tempest drove the ship on the rocks.
• Following the weather report of the approaching* tempest, we were prompted* to seek immediate shelter.
• When he saw that a tempest was brewing over the issue, he hastily* called a meeting.

Scorch

Scorch: burn, singe

• The hot iron scorched the tablecloth.
• Farmers reported that their wheat was being scorched by the fierce* rays of the sun.
• He gave the class a scorching lecture on proper behavior in the cafeteria.

Hasty

Hasty(adj): quick, hurried; not well thought out

• A hasty glance* convinced him that he was being followed.
• Rather than make a hasty decision, He rejected the offer.
• Myra apologized for the hasty visit.

Prompt

Prompt (adj) : quick, on time, punctual

• Be prompt in assembling* your baggage*.
• Terry's caution prompted him to ask many questions before he consented*.
• Larry was confident he knew his lines well enough not to need any prompting.

all right

all right: acceptable, fine; yes, okay
This idiom can also be spelled alright in informal usage.

• He said that it would be all right to wait in her office until she returned.
• Do you want me to turn off the TV? Alright, if you insist.

To look for

To look for: to try to find, to search for
An adverb phrase such as all over can be put between the verb and prepostion, as in the second example, however, the idiom cannot be separated by a noun or pronoun.

• He's spent over an hour looking for the pen that he lost.
• So there you are! We've looked allover for you.