blow; shock; strike; batting
hard; solid; stiff; tight; strong; firm (not viscous or easily moved); safe
thoughtless; reckless; rash; excessive; unreasonable; immoderate
near; close; close (in time); soon; close (relationship); friendly
nick in a blade (sword, knife); chip in a blade
to escape (disaster, death, etc.); to be saved from; to be rescued from; to avoid (e.g. punishment); to evade (e.g. responsibility); to avert
(hand) weapon; (arch.) one's forte; (arch.) one's special skill; (arch.) weapon one is skilled in using
equal; identical; the same; no different (from); just like; equivalent
obi (kimono sash); obi (strip of paper looped around a book, CD, etc. containing information about the product); band; belt; cingulum; radio or television program broadcast in the same time slot on all or most days
to strike; to hit; to attack; to bash; to sound out (someone's views); to pound (meat or fish); to chop into small pieces
to strike; to hit; to beat; to punch
to keep away; to keep at a distance
only; merely; just; at most; no more than
striking with the back of the sword
how much; how many; to what extent
effect; effectiveness; efficacy; effects (e.g. sound effects, visual effects, special effects)
horizontal (as opposed to vertical); side-to-side (as opposed to front-to-back); width; side (of a box, etc.); beside; aside
or; either ... or; maybe; perhaps; some ... and others ...; sometimes ... and at other times ...
to drag; to trail; to force (someone) along; to drag (along); to prolong; to drag out
traction; towing; hauling; driving (e.g. economic growth)
party; set; gang; company; person
dull (e.g. a knife); blunt; thickheaded; obtuse; dull (sound, color, etc.); dim (light)
numbness; going to sleep (of a limb); pins and needles
to be out of breath; to breathe hard (e.g. during physical activity); to pant
to crawl; to creep; to slither; to wriggle; to trail (of vines, flowers, etc.); to spread
hey!; say!; I say!; I; me
to seize; to catch; to obtain; to acquire; to understand; to grasp
to look into; to peep into; to peer into
to be in focus; to come into focus
cavity; hollow; void; hollow (voice, smile, etc.); blank (eyes, look, etc.); vacant (expression, stare, etc.)
in a subdued voice; in undertones; in a whisper; dry and tasteless; stale
to mutter; to murmur; to grumble; to tweet; to post on Twitter
although at this late hour; now, although it is too late; afresh; anew; again
clicking one's tongue; tut-tut; smacking one's lips (with relish)
cannot help (laughing, feeling sympathy, etc.); cannot hold back (tears, anger, etc.); cannot suppress
to lend an ear; to hearken; to give an ear to; to listen carefully
thin; skinny; delicate; fragile; feeble
to resound; to be heard far away; to reverberate; to shake; to come (home); to remain (with someone)
heart; guts; nerve; heart (of something); central part
to mince; to cut fine; to carve; to engrave; to tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to etch (into one's mind)
whispering; whisper; secret talk; murmur
reopening; resumption; restarting
shock; tremor; impact; vibration