tottering; staggering; faltering; reeling
blow; shock; strike; batting
to carry; to bring (to a place)
to gain time; to play for time; to buy time
emergency staircase; emergency stairs
snare; trap (for catching wild game, etc.); trap (i.e. ruse, subterfuge, etc.)
to bring down (an animal, opponent, etc.); to kill; to shoot dead; to shoot down
pseudo; quasi; false; suspected (case, e.g. of disease)
indicates the target of an activity; -ee (e.g. employee, examinee, trustee)
if possible; preferably; if circumstances allow
lower floor; downstairs; bottom of the stairs; foot of the stairs
gaining time; stalling for time; time-buying
to break; to smash; to defeat; to destroy; to eliminate
origin; beginning; variable measure of fabric (28.8 cm in width); for kimonos: at least 10 m in length; tip; extremity
several minutes; a few minutes
sky; air; ether; firmament; the heavens
messenger; envoy; emissary
to swoop down upon; to fly down; to alight
unqualified; without qualifications
to lie in wait (for); to be on the watch (for); to wait (for); to watch (for)
to bear; to stand; to endure; to put up with
to fill with holes; to riddle (e.g. with bullets)
broken into small fragments; smashed to atoms; fragments and splinters; smithereens
impact (of a projectile); landing (of a bullet); striking
mineral dust; mine dust; fine particles; dust
to trick; to cheat; to deceive; to coax; to wheedle; to soothe and humor (humour)
to die out; to peter out; to become extinct; to cease; to be stopped; to be discontinued
check; restraint; oppression; suppression
to be filled with strength; to be filled with effort; to be enthusiastic about; to be tired (ironic)
to strengthen; to emphasize; to emphasise
to notice; to become aware; to be scrupulous; to be attentive; to recover consciousness; to come to oneself
it cannot be helped; there's nothing for it; it's no use fighting back; it's hopeless; there is no way out of it
opposite; reverse; contrary
to run out of breath; to be short of breath; to run out of steam; to be unable to continue; to die
superiority; superior power; predominance; preponderance
halfway; half measures; unfinished; incomplete; by halves; half-baked
to half-rise to one's feet