dark clouds gather; threatening signs emerge; trouble is afoot
lightning strike; thunderbolt; bolt of lightning; to strike (lightning); to be struck by lightning
to flip; to snap; to repel; to use (an abacus); to calculate; to strum
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.)
just above; right overhead
gradually becoming poor; situation getting gradually worse and worse
to split; to tear; to burst; to be separated; to be divided
to branch; to fork; to separate; to split; to disperse; to scatter
to burst open; to split open; to be bursting with (e.g. youth, laughter, flavor); to bounce; to bound
to sever; to cut off; to suppress; to eradicate; to abstain (from); to give up
wonder; admiration; being struck with admiration
praise; admiration; commendation; approbation
closing in on (the enemy, first place, etc.); coming close to; pressing hard; pressing hard (e.g. with a question); taking to task; grilling
excelling; surpassing; outdoing
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of; just in front of; just ahead of
weapons; arms; fighting with swords; sword fight
to be filled with strength; to be filled with effort; to be enthusiastic about; to be tired (ironic)
to put one's strength into
to step forward; to step forth; to advance; to start; to embark on; to set forth on
collision; crash; running into; conflict; quarrel; clashing
center; centre; middle; -centered; -centred; -focused
to blow away; to blow off; to dispel; to drive away; to talk big
to have both; to possess both; to combine with
dimension; perspective; point of reference; level (of something)
to stand in the way; to bar someone's way; to block the way
to set free; to let go; to release; to miss (e.g. a chance); to lose; to let get away
to sink (into); to cave in; to get stuck in
(place of) refuge; escape; exit; way out; shelter; hiding place
shield; buckler; escutcheon; pretext
rivalry (between two equally strong sides); struggle for supremacy; competing (with); vying (with); contending (with); being an equal match (for)
as one would expect; just as you'd expect (from); just like (someone)
to lose a closely fought contest
to get torn; to tear; to rip; to be broken off (of negotiations, etc.); to break down; to collapse
dark; gloomy; depressed; dispirited; dark (in colour); dull; ill-boding
small; fine; minute; minor; trivial; sensitive
to be scattered about; to disperse; to be littered (with)
to lie down; to stretch out; to lie ahead (of danger, difficulty, etc.); to lie in wait
living flesh; flesh and blood; physical body of Buddha or a bodhisattva