Lesson 68

Question 1

Setback

Answer 1

Progress has been stopped by something

Question 2

Stumbling block

Answer 2

Something that prevents action or agreement

Question 3

Pitfall

Answer 3

An unexpected difficulty (often used in the plural)

Question 4

Obstacle

Answer 4

Anything that stops progress, either literally or metaphorically

Question 5

Impediment

Answer 5

Something that prevents free action, progress or movement

Question 6

Dilemma

Answer 6

A situation where a difficult choice has to be made between two, sometimes unpleasant, alternatives

Question 7

Ordeal

Answer 7

Severe experience, which is very difficult, painful or tiring

Question 8

Problematic

Answer 8

Full of problems or difficulties

Question 9

Abstruse

Answer 9

Difficult to understand

Question 10

Arduous

Answer 10

Difficult, tiring, needing much effort

Question 11

Complex

Answer 11

difficult to understand as it has many parts

Question 12

Convoluted

Answer 12

Unreasonably long and hard to follow

Question 13

Gruelling

Answer 13

Extremely tiring and difficult

Question 14

Insufferable

Answer 14

Difficult to bear as it is annoying or uncomfortable

Question 15

Obstructive

Answer 15

Causing deliberate difficulties

Question 16

Tough

Answer 16

Difficult to deal with or do

Question 17

Traumatic

Answer 17

Shocking and upsetting

Question 18

Wayward

Answer 18

Changeable, selfish and/or hard to control

Question 19

What a pain / what a drag

Answer 19

What a nuisance

Question 20

Chore

Answer 20

Boring job that has to be done

Question 21

What’s eating him? / what’s got into him? / what’s bugging him? / what’s (up) with him?

Answer 21

What’s the matter with him?

Question 22

Hassle

Answer 22

Situation causing trouble or difficulty

Question 23

Torture

Answer 23

Used figuratively to refer to an unpleasant experience

Question 24

To slog (your guts out) / to grind / to graft / to flog yourself to death

Answer 24

To work hard

Question 25

In a fix / in a spot / in a hole / up against it / up to your neck

Answer 25

In a difficult situation

Question 26

Sticky / tricky

Answer 26

Difficult

Question 27

Off the hook / in the clear / out of the wood(s)

Answer 27

Freed from a difficult situation

Question 28

Downside

Answer 28

The disadvantage of a situation

Question 29

A snag / hitch / glitch

Answer 29

Fairly small difficulties ( glitch usually refers to a technical problem of some kind. The other two words are more general)