闇やみ討うち

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

attack under cover of darkness

Specifically an attack carried out at night or in the dark, often with the implication of stealth or ambush.

• 敵てきは闇やみ討うちを仕し掛かけてきた。

  The enemy launched an attack under cover of darkness.

• 夜よ道みちで闇やみ討うちに遭あう。

  To be attacked in the dark on a night road.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb

surprise attack; sneak attack

A broader sense of a sudden, unexpected attack, not necessarily at night. Often used figuratively or in less literal contexts.

• 記き者しゃ会かい見けんで闇やみ討うちのような質しつ問もんを受うけた。

  I was hit with a surprise-attack-like question at the press conference.