a funny person, a jolly fellow

to live the high life, to live high on the hog, to live in style, to live large

(figuratively, of rumours) to be flying around, to be rife

(driving, informal) to tailgate [+ de (someone)] / (informal) to follow (someone) everywhere, to breathe down someone's neck, to stay close to (someone) all the time, to stick to (someone) like glue, like a leech, to dog (someone's) footsteps [+ de (someone)]

snail's pace, stately pace, solemn gait

steam train

(rail transport) a high-speed train

(literary) at full speed, at full throttle, hell-for-leather

(figuratively) to jump on the bandwagon

(informal, figuratively) to be slow to catch on, to lag behind