Rather than clashing directly over trade disputes, the two countries could turn to an impartial international jury to resolve commercial tensions.

In effect, the monasteries came to represent a kind of alternative administrative structure, which owed nothing to - and often clashed directly with - Rome.

The Chinese believe their ambitions clash directly with the vital interests of the United States.

If we clash directly, we would destroy your world; without the fear of that, the Dark Gods wouldn't hesitate to meddle.

If they clashed directly, they might all too easily destroy the very universe for whose dominion they contended.

One exception to this policy: decline money from a group whose actions directly clash with the stated goals of your organization.

From the first moments of the debate, Mr. Cheney and Mr. Edwards clashed sharply and directly on Iraq.

Here, they clashed directly with police and bankers; several teachers were beaten and a large plate-glass window was broken.

Another, a cutback in the maximum deposit eligible for insurance, would clash directly with the objective of preventing bank panics and stabilizing the nation's money supply.

The continuing clashes have raised fears that armed Jewish settlers or extremists could clash directly with the Palestinians.