Acronym

[æ̱krənɪm] 

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(n) a word composed of the first letters of the words in a phrase, especially when this is used as a name

e.g. word NATO is made up of the first letters of the `North Atlantic Treaty Organization'

By (or in) leaps and bounds

[baɪ liːps ænd baunds] 

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with startlingly rapid progress

e.g. productivity improved in leaps and bounds

Nautical

['nɔːtɪk(ə)l] 

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(adj) of or concerning navigation, sailors, or the sea; maritime

e.g. nautical charts

To stick to one’s guns

[tuː stɪk tuː wʌns gʌns] 

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refuse to compromise or change, despite criticism

e.g. we have stuck to our guns on that issue

As sick as a parrot

[æz sɪk æz æ 'pærət] 

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extremely disappointed

e.g. I was as sick as a parrot when Manchester United lost

To leave no stone unturned

[tuː liːv nəu stəun ʌn'tɜːnd]

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try every possible course of action in order to achieve something

e.g. Both organizations have vowed to leave no stone unturned in the search for peace

Ceaseless

['siːsləs] 

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(adj) constant and unending

e.g. the fort was subjected to ceaseless bombardment

Offspring

['ɔfsprɪŋ] 

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(n) 1) a person's child or children

e.g. the offspring of middle-class parents

2)an animal's young  

3)the product or result of something

e.g. German nationalism was the offspring of military ambition

Subtle

[ˈsʌt(ə)l] 

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(adj)  (especially of a change or distinction) so delicate or precise as to be difficult to analyse or describe

e.g. his language expresses rich and subtle meanings

Predator

['predətə]

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(n) 1) an animal that naturally preys on others wolves are major predators of small mammals

2) a person who ruthlessly exploits others

e.g. a sexual predator

Exposed

[ɪk'spəuzd] 

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(adj)  if a place is exposed, it has no natural protection against bad weather or enemies, for example because it has no trees or is on very high ground

e.g. this part of the west coast of Scotland is very exposed to Atlantic winds

Precise

[prɪ'saɪs] 

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(adj) 1) marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail

e.g. I want as precise a time of death as I can get

2) (of a person) exact, accurate, and careful about details

e.g. the director was precise with his camera positions

Persuasive

[pə'sweɪsɪv]

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(adj) good at persuading someone to do or believe something through reasoning or the use of temptation

e.g. an informative and persuasive speech

Dense

[den(t)s] 

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(adj) 1) closely compacted in substance

e.g. as the storm cleared, a dense fog came down

2) having the constituent parts crowded closely together

e.g. she made her way through the dense undergrowth