to try to unsettle someone; to throw off balance
dangerous; critical; grave; uncertain; unreliable; dodgy
at the very beginning; first of all; first and foremost; before anything else
bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
charming; fascinating; voluptuous
to build up one's strength; to get stronger; to give (someone) strength; to cheer (someone) up; to encourage (someone)
laid-back; carefree; easygoing; thoughtless; happy-go-lucky
protagonist; main character; hero; head (of a household); proprietor (of a store)
strength; power; proficiency; ability
in any case; regardless; either way; since it makes no difference anyway (you might as well ...); since it won't change the outcome; if you are doing it regardless
area; vicinity; side; edge; circumstances
to train; to teach; to acquire (information); to learn; to stock; to stock up on
to forge; to temper; to drill; to train; to discipline
blunder; bungle; gaffe; bungling; stupid; tactless
to get entangled in; to be involved in; to be embroiled in; to get mixed up in
dangerous; risky; in danger; in jeopardy; uncertain; unreliable
to experience (something unpleasant); to go through; to suffer
interest (in something); curiosity (about something); zest (for)
to disentangle; to untangle; to break up into pieces; to pick apart; to relieve; to ease
inscrutable; incomprehensible
to notice; to realize; to realise; to regain consciousness; to come to (one's senses); to come round
high salary earner; high income earner; well-paid employee; highly-paid; in the top salary bracket
to ferry across (e.g. a river); to carry across; to lay across; to build across; to hand over; to hand in
the number of people; many people; a large number of people
to throw at; to turn; to raise
lesson; class; teaching; instruction; classwork; schoolwork
link (e.g. in a chain of events); part (of a plan, campaign, activities, etc.); monocyclic
as one would expect from ...; given that ... (naturally ...); precisely because ...; all the more because of ...; on account of ...; ... being what it is
unskillful; poor; awkward; imprudent; untactful
hundred million; 100,000,000; 10^8
with a pat; with a tap; with a pop; with a crack; casually (throw); carelessly
investment; contribution; financing
until then; till then; to that extent; the end of it; all there is to it
to be disordered; to be disarranged; to be discomposed; to be upset; to lapse into chaos (due to war, etc.)
cute; adorable; dear; precious; innocent; childlike
to recognise; to recognize; to know by sight; to become acquainted with
girl; daughter; baby girl; young woman