just because; even if; even though
to handle well; to handle deftly; to deal with; to manage; to prepare (meat or fish) for cooking; to dress (meat, etc.)
broke; poor; short; skint; having no money
dwindling; declining; diminishing; tapering (to a point)
real condition; actual circumstances; actual state of affairs
making a loss; incurring a deficit
to swing; to shake; to wave; to veer; to deflect; to lean towards
smirkingly; broadly (grinning)
secrecy; highly classified information
double; twice (as much); twofold
person with a lot of free time on their hands; person of leisure; idler; loafer
main force; chief object; mainline
to affect; to impact; to influence
to throw away as useless; to scrap; to make null and void; to renege; to annul
to stare back (at); to glare back
to glare at each other; to confront each other
dispatch; despatch; deployment; temporary employee (esp. from an agency); temporary worker; agency temp
stout-hearted; firm; courageous; brave; tough
to be seething (with anger); to be frenzied; to be menacing; to be murderous
how; in what way; in what manner
halving; dividing (into two parts); bisection; the two equinoxes (vernal and autumnal)
the number of people; many people; a large number of people; (counted as an) adult
loud laughter; roaring with laughter
better; preferable; more; increase; (arch.) increase; (arch.) growth
one's appearance; clothing; costume; dress
to be utterly amazed; to be stunned; to be disgusted
to fall to one's knees; to go down on one's knees (e.g. to express respect)
You'll regret this!; I'll get you for this; Just you wait
to stand, walk, etc. shoulder-to-shoulder; to be on a par with
to pass (a car); to overtake; to surpass; to outstrip; to outdistance
to start for home; to head for home; to make for home
form of astrology based on the Xiuyaojing
hiring locally; locally-hire; local employee; employment of local staff
exemplar; model; example; pattern
bad example from which one can learn; good example of what not to do (esp. how not to behave); negative example
backdoor; rear entrance; rear exit; unauthorized; illicit; illegal
lending (money); finance; loan; adaptability; versatility; flexibility
kind; sort; type; similar example; parallel; the like
limited time; limited-time offer
to burn; to roast; to grill; to bake