origin of an affair; spark that lit the fuse; beginning
anonymity; using an assumed name
bulletin board; display board; notice board; electronic bulletin board; BBS
payment in advance; advance payment; prepayment
to try to unsettle someone; to throw off balance
deletion; elimination; erasure; striking out
dangerous; unsettled; troubled; disturbed; insecure
site (usu. website); sight; payable on sight
principal occupation; main job; professional; an expert; I (of a government official, etc.); me
request; commission; entrusting (with a matter); dependence; reliance
dark-natured; gloomy; dour; moody; insular; glum
trade; business; commerce; occupation; calling; profession
only; merely; just; at most; no more than
to shake; to jolt; to shake (e.g. the political world); to disturb; to put off a batter (by varying one's type of pitch)
intricate; elaborate; complicated; complex
to go through the proper procedures; to follow the required steps
ingenious; skillful; clever; deft
person; character; one's character; one's personality; able person; talented person
to end in vain; to be wasted effort
potentiality; likelihood; possibility; availability
after a long time; for the first time in a while
shady; underhanded; questionable
full of (e.g. mistakes); riddled with; covered all over with (blood, mud, etc.)
to tattle; to tell on; to inform a superior of someone's actions
so; like this; in this way
quarrel; dispute; argument
yielding; submission; surrender; giving way; succumbing
in that case; (might not be what was expected or hoped for but) if that's the case
crafty; tricky; sly; sinister (look)
results; record; grades; marks
modesty; humility; being humble
considerably; greatly; a lot
boy; bellboy; porter; waiter
special someone; special person; precious one; significant other
declining; refusal; nonacceptance; turning down; withdrawal (e.g. of candidacy); pulling out (e.g. of a race)
explanation (e.g. for one's actions); excuse; justification; defense; defence
... is the reason; ... is my excuse
everyday life; daily life