fester, chink, mouldy, chink in one's armour, set the stage

People are finding chinks in the technology’s armour, exploiting the differences between computer and human vision

Fooling Big Brother

ECONOMIST.COM

As face-recognition technology spreads, so do ideas for subverting it

Fooling Big Brother

Stephen Harper, a fiscal conservative, said his family would wear sweaters to ward off draughts

The official residence of Canada's prime ministers is mouldy and poorly heated. It may stay that way

Justin Trudeau is afraid to ask taxpayers to fix up his mouldy official residence

ECONOMIST.COM

Its two biggest neighbours are China and Pakistan. It has fought wars with both, and border issues still fester. Both are nuclear-armed—and allies with one another, to boot

India’s armed forces look good on paper. Yet there are serious chinks in its armour

India is wise to speak softly, but it could do with a bigger stick

ECONOMIST.COM

"Today’s necessary but likely very expensive action for taxpayers is the consequence of regulatory neglect and of a broader political system’s reluctance to take on what should have been clearly seen as festering problems."
LAWRENCE H. SUMMERS, a former Treasury secretary, on the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.



Festering disagreements have set the stage for a potentially contentious EU-Russia summit this week.


Anheuser is prepared to reject InBev's unsolicited $46.35 billion bid as early as this week, setting the stage for a hostile takeover battle.



Top executives from Ford and GM are getting face time with Barack Obama, a development that could thaw festering tension between the U.S. presidential candidate and Detroit's auto makers.

mouldy

ˈməʊldi/

adjective

1. 1.

   covered with a fungal growth which causes decay, due to age or damp conditions.

   
   

   "mouldy bread"
2. 2.
3. informal

   tediously old-fashioned.

   
   

   "mouldy conventions"

chink

 (tʃɪŋk)

n

1. a small narrow opening, such as a fissure or crack

2. chink in one's armour a small but fatal weakness

fester

ˈfɛstə/

verb

1. (of a wound or sore) become septic; suppurate.

   "a festering abscess"

   • (of food or rubbish) become rotten and offensive to the senses.

     "piles of mouldy grey paper festered by the sink"
   • (of a negative feeling or a problem) become worse or more intense, especially through long-term neglect or indifference.

     "below the surface, the old antagonisms festered"
   • 
     

fester (FEELING)
verb [I]
If an argument or bad feeling festers, it continues so that feelings of hate or dissatisfaction increase:
It's better to expressed your anger than let it fester inside you.
a festering argument/dispute
━━ v., n. （傷口が）うむ, うませる; ただれ（させ）る; 悩む［ませる］; 化膿(のう), うみ; 潰瘍(かいよう).

set the scene/stage (ALSO the scene/stage is set)
used to mean that conditions have been made advantageous for something to happen, or that something is likely to happen:
This weekend's talks between the two leaders have set the scene for a peace agreement to be reached.
The stage looks set for a repeat of last year's final.