first attack; first strike; first blow
check; keeping in check; containment (of enemy forces); diversionary action; pickoff throw; holding (a runner) on base
landing place (for aircraft); common ground; compromise; agreement
comprehension; consent; understanding; OK; roger
sword strike; sword slash
to add; to add up; to increase; to gather (e.g. speed); to include; to count in
feeling in the hands (when striking, poking, etc.); (feeling of) resistance; response (to one's efforts); reaction; (having an) effect (on)
perfectly; right on the mark; spot on; enough; sufficiently; thoroughly
swordsmanship; line drawn by the tip of a sword when slashing
wound; injury; chip; crack; flaw; defect
shallow; superficial; slight (wound); light (sleep); short (time); early
(jumping) nimbly; light-footed; boing; used at sentence end to affect cuteness
hollow; mid-air; air; sky
(turning) round and round; in circles; wrapping around; winding around
almost; very nearly; only just; barely; just in time
to throw violently against; to slam against; to strike; to thrust at someone (e.g. a letter)
to die; to lay down life's burden
to rescue (someone); to save; to help (out of a difficulty); to save (spiritually); to redeem (from sin); to deliver (from suffering, distress, etc.)
to be saved; to be rescued; to escape harm; to be spared damage; to be helped; to be saved trouble
soft and flaky (pie, potatoes, squash, etc.); fluffy; crumbly; being pleased with oneself; beaming happily; chuckling to oneself
trouble; burden; nuisance; care; dependence; support
aria; singing; chanting; reciting (e.g. a spell)
firmly; flatly; definitely (wrong, different, etc.); absolutely; by far; far and away
to that extent; accordingly; that being the case; that state; that condition
spell; charm; incantation; magic words
in spite of; despite; although; nonetheless; nevertheless; but
moving forward (e.g. of a vehicle); onward movement; progress (of work, activities, etc.); advance; progression (of a disease, global warming, etc.); progression (e.g. chord progression)
to stop (in one's tracks); to come to a stop; to halt; to pause; to stand still
traveller; traveler; wayfarer; tourist
bewilderment; perplexity; embarrassment; discomfiture; bafflement
to reach the point where ...; to come to ...; to come to be that ...; to start to ...; to begin to ...
to worry (about); to fuss (over); to be careful (about); to pay attention (to); to take (good) care of
to rely on; to depend on; to count on; to turn to (for help)
equality (esp. of status); equal footing; equal terms
to give (as a gift); to present; to confer; to bestow; to award
three (long cylindrical things); three-of-a-kind (in a dealt hand)
to collapse; to crumble; to get out of shape; to lose one's shape; to break down; to be thrown into disarray; to crash (stock market)