bitter smile; wry smile; strained laugh; sarcastic laugh
gradually; by degrees; little by little; steps; stairs; staircase
the past; bygone days; one's past (that one would prefer remained secret); past (tense); preterit; previous life
to raise; to raise up; to wake; to wake up; to cause; to bring about; to start
newcomer; initiate; rookie
person given as a reference; witness; potential suspect; person of interest; witness
to stare in wonder; to be amazed
unreasonable; irrational; outrageous; absurd
plot of land; lot; soil; locality; region; place
trade; buying and selling; trafficking (e.g. of humans, arms, drugs); dealing
trouble; difficulties; dispute; confusion; disorder; mess
transactions; dealings; business
somehow (or other); for some reason; without knowing why; something (or other); some ... or other
bribe; sweetener; douceur
potentiality; likelihood; possibility; availability
in succession; one by one
very fast; in a twinkle; before one's eyes
to become pale; to turn pale
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
to listen attentively to; to be lost in
(in the) neighbourhood; neighborhood; around; about; for instance; say
deed (esp. negative); act; action; one's doing
way (of doing); manner; method; means
threat; bird-scaring device (scarecrow, gun, etc.)
to fire into (e.g. a crowd); to launch (e.g. missiles); to lob (e.g. grenades)
decisive battle of brief duration
satisfaction; pride; one's strong point; one's forte; regular customer; regular client
class (of students); group (of people); party; lot; bunch; crime family; organized-crime syndicate
direct; immediate; personal; firsthand
(a) principle; (a) reason; (a) point; some truth
excitement; stimulation; agitation; arousal
to bear up in tragedy; to stand pain well; to hold one's temper; to clench one's teeth; to grit one's teeth
checking answers (e.g. to homework problems); verifying one's answers
notice; attention; observation
sworn brother; buddy; pal
similarly; same (idea); same (name)
person requiring special attention; person to be wary of; person under (police) surveillance; dangerous person
search (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry; enquiry
bureau; department; office (e.g. post, telephone); broadcasting station (e.g. television, radio); affair; situation
notification; official notice; directive (e.g. from higher to lower levels of the administration); being well versed (in); being proficient (in)