trying out a new sword or blade (originally on someone, but now on soaked straw targets)
trunk; torso; plastron (in kendo); touching the plastron (kimari-te in kendo); frame (of a drum, etc.); sound box (of a shamisen, etc.)
crash; smash; crunch; bang; breaking sound
styrofoam; styrene foam; expanded polystyrene
superiority; predominance
neighborhood; vicinity; environs; approaching
reinforcement (e.g. of troops)
rainbow-colored; rainbow-coloured
unity; consolidation; uniformity; unification; compatible
essential; important; crucial; vital; main
within expectations; as expected; within the scope of hypothesis or assumption
grazing; touching lightly; squeezing (someone for money); percentage; kickback
variation in color (colour); having a different color
head start; initiative; preemption
to overcome (opposition); to push past; to force one's way; to press and cut
small pieces; fragments; chopped meat; scraps (of beef, pork, etc.)
tenacious; tough; enduring; dogged; headstrong; stubborn
careful; scrupulous; thorough; conscientious; elaborate; deliberate
local specialty or souvenir bought as a gift while travelling; present brought by a visitor; something unpleasant that one is given (e.g. an illness while on vacation); unwelcome gift
art; craft; accomplishment; artistic skill; technique; performance
to concentrate; to devote; to apply; to strain; to rack
main constituent; core; nucleus; subject (philosophical); protagonist
asking for the moon; pining for what one doesn't have; thinking the grass is greener on the other side of the fence; asking for too much; asking for the impossible
to twist; to turn; to writhe (e.g. in pain); to twist around; to turn in one's seat
filling (up); replenishing; filling in (tooth); loading (gun with ammunition, camera with film, etc.); packing; plugging
unable to fight (esp. in video games); unconscious; knocked out; dead
to watch for an unguarded moment
to spring at; to leap upon; to swoop down on; to throw oneself upon (e.g. an enemy)
stall (in flying); downturn; slowdown; slump
creak; squeak; creaking; discord; strife; friction
centre of gravity (center); centroid; barycenter; (one's) balance
amount of force (required to do something); (using the) right amount of force; appropriate use of force
vigorously; really getting stuck into
underground; subterranean
depths; deep place; bottom (of one's heart)
antlion (larva); doodlebug; antlion pit
to sink (into); to get depressed
just above; right overhead
right under; directly below
to fill a hole with earth