line of spears held at the ready
depending on; dependent on
phantasmagoric; protean; shape-shifting; kaleidoscopic; capable of ever-changing appearance
martial arts; military arts; wushu; modern sport derived from traditional Chinese martial arts
essence; true nature; substance; reality
to hack; to chop (firewood, meat, etc.); to chop off (e.g. a head)
to jump (out of the way); to jump back; to jump aside
shooting; firing; emitting; ejection; projection; injection
to wind (thread, film, etc.)
powerlessness; helplessness; incompetent
colored thing (clothing, fabric, paper, etc.) (coloured); variety shows
to strike a pose (in kabuki); to assume a posture; to make a proud gesture; to put on an air of confidence; to speak boastfully
good outward appearance; looking nice; being attractive; making a fine show
seven; seven years of age; four o'clock (old time system)
identifying signal; recognition signal; (radio) call sign
initial response (e.g. to a crisis); action in the earliest stages; initial shock (of an earthquake); preliminary tremor
to complain; to make a complaint
extinguishing; dying out (of a fire); putting out
invasion; incursion; raid; aggression; intrusion; trespass
one by one; thoroughly; exhaustively; with a fine-tooth comb
remnants of an enemy army
to bring into the open; to reveal; to uncover (e.g. evidence); to bring to light
cooperation; coordination; link
thank you for your hard work; I appreciate your efforts
this; our; the ... in question; right; justice; fairness
dealing appropriately (with a situation); taking proper measures; handling (an issue) carefully; making the best of (a bad bargain)
interruption (e.g. of a conversation)
stoppage; interruption; cessation; suspension
playing to the gallery; grandstanding; ad hoc; haphazard; dress rehearsal
position; location; base; point; site
to compose; to put together
careless; sloppy; faulty; using unreliable sources (in a piece of writing); piece of writing with unreliable sources or many errors
modus operandi; criminal technique; trick
public order; public peace; public security; law and order
(suffer) deterioration; growing worse; aggravation; degeneration; corruption
hitting the target; striking home; proving to be right; coming true; being on the mark
intent to kill; intent to murder; urge to kill; murderous impulse
smooth-bore gun; unrifled gun
district; section; sector
to meet fortuitously (e.g. running into an old friend); to meet by chance; to happen across
comfort; ease; easy; simple; (economically) comfortable; raku pottery
nervous temperament; worry habit; pessimistic nature; pessimism