Lesson 68 Flashcards
Setback
Progress has been stopped by something
Stumbling block
Something that prevents action or agreement
Pitfall
An unexpected difficulty (often used in the plural)
Obstacle
Anything that stops progress, either literally or metaphorically
Impediment
Something that prevents free action, progress or movement
Dilemma
A situation where a difficult choice has to be made between two, sometimes unpleasant, alternatives
Ordeal
Severe experience, which is very difficult, painful or tiring
Problematic
Full of problems or difficulties
Abstruse
Difficult to understand
Arduous
Difficult, tiring, needing much effort
Complex
difficult to understand as it has many parts
Convoluted
Unreasonably long and hard to follow
Gruelling
Extremely tiring and difficult
Insufferable
Difficult to bear as it is annoying or uncomfortable
Obstructive
Causing deliberate difficulties
Tough
Difficult to deal with or do
Traumatic
Shocking and upsetting
Wayward
Changeable, selfish and/or hard to control
What a pain / what a drag
What a nuisance
Chore
Boring job that has to be done
What’s eating him? / what’s got into him? / what’s bugging him? / what’s (up) with him?
What’s the matter with him?
Hassle
Situation causing trouble or difficulty
Torture
Used figuratively to refer to an unpleasant experience
To slog (your guts out) / to grind / to graft / to flog yourself to death
To work hard
In a fix / in a spot / in a hole / up against it / up to your neck
In a difficult situation
Sticky / tricky
Difficult
Off the hook / in the clear / out of the wood(s)
Freed from a difficult situation
Downside
The disadvantage of a situation
A snag / hitch / glitch
Fairly small difficulties ( glitch usually refers to a technical problem of some kind. The other two words are more general)
