rugged [ ˈrʌɡ.ɪd ] the vibrant sandstone cliffs and mountains of the rugged southern Jordan desert

swimmingly [ ˈswɪm.ɪŋ.li ] Everything went swimmingly until...

muscled [ ˈmʌs.^əld ] a muscled body

earthquake [ ɜːθ.kweɪk ] an earthquake in 551 was perhaps the final nail in the coffin for this city in decline

ingenious [ ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs ] In Petra was an Ingenious Water System

thorny [ ˈθɔːr.ni ] the thorny issue of water

flash [ flæʃ ] The cisterns they used to store water also helped keep it from being lost in the flash floods

tomb [ tuːm ] Petra's tombs were abandoned and buildings fell into ruin

Push one's luck Wary of pushing his luck too far, he didn’t stop to excavate

wary [ ˈwer.i ] Wary of pushing his luck too far

flank [ flæŋk ] Secret Service agents flanked the president’s car.

flanked [ flæŋkt ] the huge platform flanked on one side with columns

riddled [ ˈrɪd.^əld ] the Petra's treasury is riddled with bullet holes

imposing [ ɪmˈpoʊ.zɪŋ ] They offer a clue as to what was hidden inside this imposing facade