N4 — outside your level filter

ばかりだ

ばかりだbakari daN4neutral

savor + only keeps getting worse

ajiwau bakari da

only keeps getting worse; once ready, nothing's left but to do it

meaning: only keeps getting worse

薬くすりを飲のんでも、症状しょうじょうは悪わるくなるばかりだ。

kusuri o nonde mo, shoujou wa warukunaru bakari da.

Even with the medicine, the symptoms only keep getting worse. neutral

書類しょるいはそろった。あとは判はんを押おすばかりだ。

shorui wa sorotta. ato wa han o osu bakari da.

The paperwork is all together. All that's left now is to stamp it. neutral

All examples6

only keeps getting more so — running one way, no sign of stopping

薬くすりを飲のんでも、症状しょうじょうは悪わるくなるばかりだ。
kusuri o nonde mo, shoujou wa warukunaru bakari da.
Even with the medicine, the symptoms only keep getting worse. neutral
練習れんしゅうをさぼってたら、下手へたになるばかりだよ。
renshuu o sabottetara, heta ni naru bakari da yo.
If you keep skipping practice, you'll only get worse at it. casual
対策たいさくを取とらなければ、被害ひがいは広ひろがるばかりです。
taisaku o toranakereba, higai wa hirogaru bakari desu.
Unless measures are taken, the damage will only continue to spread. neutral

all that is left is to do it — everything else is ready

書類しょるいはそろった。あとは判はんを押おすばかりだ。
shorui wa sorotta. ato wa han o osu bakari da.
The paperwork is all together. All that's left now is to stamp it. neutral
荷造にづくりは終おわったし、あとは出でかけるばかりだよ。
nizukuri wa owatta shi, ato wa dekakeru bakari da yo.
The packing's done, so all that's left is to head out. casual
会場かいじょうの設営せつえいは完了かんりょうし、あとは開演かいえんを待まつばかりです。
kaijou no setsuei wa kanryou shi, ato wa kaien o matsu bakari desu.
The venue is fully set up, and all that remains is to wait for the curtain to rise. formal

ばかりになっているbakarininatteirualternant
味あじわうばかりになっている
for the "one step left" reading — everything else is done and the situation stands ready: 荷物にもつは送おくるばかりになっている.

In the "one step left" reading the sentence usually names the finished
preparations first — 準備じゅんびは終おわった。あとは出でるばかりだ。