MCQs and guided cloze

panorama

an unbroken view of the whole region surrounding an observer

vista

a beautiful view from a high position/ a possible picture or event in the future that you can remember

embryonic

starting to develop

latent

existed, but not yet developed

nascent

only recently formed or started, but likely to grow larger quickly

fledgling

new and without experience

be the despair of

to cause someone such difficulties that they do not know how to deal with you

scourge

something or someone that causes great suffering or a lot of trouble

hydra

a difficult problem that keeps returning

the bane of sth

the cause of continuous trouble and unhappiness

diddle

to work with something in a way that is not serious, or to play with something/(informal) to get money from someone in a way that is not honest

feint

to pretend to move, or to make a move, in a particular direction in order to deceive an opponent, especially in sports such as football or boxing

nick

to steal/to cheat or overcharge sb/(police) arrest criminals/make a small cut on a surface or an edge

in the nick

in prison

in good/bad nick

in good/bad health

(ideas) on the scrapheap

not be interested in

fossilization zone

the geological zone containing fossil species

knacker’s yard

a situation in which something has failed completely or a person is no longer successful or useful

pull off

succeed in achieving sth difficult

wade through

to spend a lot of time and effort doing something boring or difficult, especially reading a lot of informationcha

chalk sth up

to achieve something, such as a victory, or to score points in a game/ to achieve success or failure

notch sth up

to achieve sth

endow

to give a large amount of money to pay for creating a college, hospital, etc. or to provide an income for it

be endowed with sth

have a particular quality or feature

bootstrap

to start a business, especially an internet one, with little money/to improve your situation or become more successful, without help from others or without advantages that others have

pull/haul yourself up by the/your (own) bootstraps

to improve your situation without any help from other people

prime

to tell someone something that will prepare them for a particular situation/to cover the surface of wood with a special paint before the main paint is put on/to make a bomb or gun ready to explode or fire

(a plan) go pear-shaped

(a plan) fail

come a cropper

fail heavily/suffer froma defeat or disaster

fray around/at the edges

become less effective or successful

noose

a limit or a problem

ligature

a thread or wire used for tying something, especially a blood vessel

twilight

used to describe a way of life that involves illegal or immoral activities, and is on the edge of normal society

penumbra

a part of a shadow in which only some of the light is blocked, used especially about a shadow made during an eclipse

crepuscular

relating to or like the time of day just before the sun goes down, when the light is not bright

stygian

extremely and unpleasantly dark

guffaw

to laugh loudly, especially at something stupid that someone has said or done

crumple with (laughter…)

If someone's face crumples, it becomes full of lines because of a strong emotion

cackle

laugh or talk in a loud, high voice

homologous (to/with)

having similar structure, purpose, value to

tantamount to sth

being almost the same or having the same effect as something, usually something bad

carve out sth

to achieve or obtain sth by skillful activities

collar

(informal)to find someone and stop them in order to talk to them/to catch or arrest someone such as a criminal/to get something for yourself

screw sth out of sb

get sth from sb using force and threats

unwarranted

not justified or authorized

domicile

a place where sb lives/the country in which a person or company lives or does business and has their legal address

supercilious

behaving as if you are better than other people, and that their opinions, beliefs, or ideas are not important

snide (remark)

containing unpleasant criticism that is not clearly stated

fill one’s boots

take as much as one wants sth

boots on the ground

soldiers, police, etc. who are physically present somewhere in a military or police operation

shoot the boots off sb

kill sb

bet one’s boots

to be certain

tread the boards

appear on stage as an actor

play to the gallery

to behave in a way intended to make people admire or support you

crowd-puller

a person or thing that attracts a lot of attention and that people will pay to see

(wait) in the wings

ready to do something or to be used at the appropriate time

it'll be alright on the night

. Some event or activity will ultimately be successful or adequate once it has begun, especially despite difficulties before it

fighting chance

a possibility of success if great effort is made

hang fire

delay or be delayed in taking action or progressing.

beat the retreat

eave a place quickly in order to avoid an embarrassing or dangerous situation.

steal a march on sb

gain an advantage over (someone) by acting before they do.

shell-shocked

shocked or confused because of a sudden alarming experience.

baptism of/by fire

a difficult or painful new undertaking or experience