by a hair's breadth; in the nick of time; touch and go; close call; critical moment
gasping for breath; puffing and panting; wheezing
to gasp for air; to pant; to be out of breath
fresh wound; fresh bruise
to look into; to peep into; to peer into
what did you just say (to me)?; what's that?
astounding; startling; world-shaking; amazing; earth-shattering
Sirs; Mesdames; around (the time that, etc.); about
riddle; puzzle; enigma; enigmatic; mysterious
10,000; ten thousand; myriad; everything; all; (arch.) various
occupation; taking and maintaining exclusive control (of a location)
fighting back; returning fire; counter-attack; responding to an attack; accepting a challenge
scattered; separated; dispersed
management; (executive) staff; leaders; leadership; top brass; upper echelons
company; lot; people; troupe; company (of musicians)
oh; ah; if there is; as for that; that is
to lead; to spearhead (a group); to command (troops)
difference; discrepancy; variation
Solomon; Solomon (10th century BCE; King of Israel)
edict; ordinance; proclamation
turmoil; chaos; confusion
culmination; acme; height; peak; ultimate; perfection
head; chief; boss; leader
foreshadowing; preparation; precautionary measures
collapse; crumbling; breaking down; (radioactive) decay; disintegration
silent (as the grave); deadly silent; deathly quiet
to be at a loss; to be puzzled; to be perplexed; to be pressed for; to be pinched for; to become poor
to break the silence; to break one's silence
bridge (of a koto, etc.); cylinder; prism
devil; demon; Satan; the Devil; Māra; evil spirits or forces that hinder one's path to enlightenment
making doubly sure; points scored for good measure; insurance run (in baseball)
unmistakable; evident; obvious; certain; beyond doubt