before one knows; before one becomes aware of; unnoticed; unawares
vivid; bright; brilliant; skillful; skilful; adept
speaking of ...; when it comes to ...; as for ...; if one were to say ...
being settled quickly; reaching a quick conclusion; no need to say any more; no problem
engine; agency; organisation; system; facility
to leak out (a secret); to be exposed (a lie, improper behaviour, etc.); to be found out; to get away (of fish)
shudder; shiver; trembling with fear
direction; way; person; lady; method of; manner of; care of ...
resistance; opposition; reluctance; repulsion; resistance; drag
(on a) closer look; closer scrutiny; second look
just one person; only one
killing a would-be avenger; having the tables turned on someone (e.g. by a challenger); being beaten at one's own game
no sooner ... than ...; hardly ... when ...; as soon as
to set up (a house, store, etc.); to build; to have at the ready (e.g. a gun); to hold in preparation (e.g. a camera); to adopt a posture; to assume a stance; to put on an air
to step into (e.g. someone else's territory); to break into; to raid; to come to grips with; to get to the core of
to fall (of rain, snow, ash, etc.); to come down; to form (of frost); to beam down (of sunlight or moonlight); to pour in; to visit (of luck, misfortune, etc.)
to be separated (of clothing); to be exposed; to be wide open; to stand with one's limbs apart; to block the way
to assault with a sword; to stab at; to slash at
having no choice; at a loss for what to do; at one's wits' end
all members; all hands; everyone; everybody; whole crew
sword; blade; single stroke
under (guidance, supervision, rules, the law, etc.); under (a flag, the sun, etc.); beneath; with (e.g. one blow); on (the promise, condition, assumption, etc. that ...); (somebody's) side
to slay; to cut down (a foe)
end of life; death; annihilation
rope; cord; policeman's rope
taking (a suspect to the police); dragging (someone) away
to ask a question; to begin to ask a question
name; given name; first name
to divide; to cut; to halve; to break; to crack; to dilute; to fall below
to (be able to) make contact; to (be able to) get in touch
duty; function; office; mission; task
accomplishment; execution
to go mad; to lose one's mind; to get out of order; to go amiss; to go wrong (of a plan or expectation, etc.); to fall through
calmness; composure; presence of mind; stability; steadiness
to pay (e.g. money, bill); to brush off; to wipe away; to drive away (e.g. one's competitors); to sell off (something unneeded); to dispose of; to pay (e.g. attention)
just as; in the act of; as soon as; at the moment that
complexion; one's colour; one's color; countenance; expression; one's face
-like; sort of; similar to; resembling
acquisition (esp. corporate); buy-out; takeover; bribery; buying off; corruption