build-up

It is thought to be the result of a long-term build-up of self-esteem, caused by an excessive flow of cash into the bank balance.

Dr Gerry Mander, the therapist the stars trust 2011

The long-term build-up to London begins in earnest with the European Championships in

Evening Standard - Home Matt Majendie 2011

I remember a ridiculous fine in the build-up to Chelsea v Peterborough in the FA Cup in 2001, says Mark Poole.

Who has played the fewest games during a full professional career? | The Knowledge 2011

Similarly the very well-designed and high-performing Mars rovers (which have exceeded all expectations) are dead/dying due to build-up of dust on the solar panels; an astronaut with a pack of Handi-wipes could fix that in 10 minutes.

Matthew Yglesias » By Request: Space Flight 2009

The recorded stages of Ria, Naked Portrait 2006–07, his last large female nude, indicate the suspenseful build-up of pigment on her toe and the radiator; heavy incretions represent her curls and flushed face.

Lucian Freud obituary 2011

A human-introduced disease, rinderpest, almost wiped out wildebeest in parts of Africa, which in turn led to a build-up of woody vegetation, resulting in devastating wildfires.

Loss of predators in the food chain can alter the ecosystem 2011

Ground-pounding extraterrestrial probes, on the other hand, function more like the proverbial blind man describing the shape of an elephant & fail due to the inexorable build-up of individually minor mechanical problems.

Matthew Yglesias » By Request: Space Flight 2009

The massive military build-up for WWII would have been delayed for years because we would have had to rebuild the steel industry first.

Matthew Yglesias » McConnell: Spending Can’t Work Except When It Can 2009

Six years ago, when London unexpectedly won the Olympic bid, Ohuruogu was picked out as "the face" that would represent her home city in the long build-up to an extravagant sporting showcase.

Christine Ohuruogu: It doesn't matter if I'm face of the Games or not 2011

But since Bush blew it back in the day — in part because he was always short-changing the war in Afghanistan in order to horde resources for his planned invasion of Iraq — the effort to build-up a workable Afghan central government shifted from a secondary objective to a primary one.

Matthew Yglesias » The Lost Opportunity 2009