stern; grim; rough; rugged; forbidding; overbearing
cutting in two with a single stroke; taking decisive action; dealing with decisively; cutting the (Gordian) knot
equal (in ability); even; evenly matched; well-matched; on par (with)
subject; theme; homework; assignment; task; challenge
to supplement; to make up for; to compensate for; to cover (a shortage, loss, etc.); to fill (e.g. a vacancy)
bang; bam; noontime signal gun (carried out early Meiji to Taishō); noon gun; last round in a game of 12 rounds; precisely
to respond; to answer; to meet (e.g. demands, expectations); to affect; to take a toll; to strike home