Spiel

Spiel - to speak extravagantly; a persuasive talk.

Example - "He delivers a breathless and effortless spiel in promotion of his new novel"

Image - https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/retail-salesmen-sales_tactic-sales_strategy-salespeople-sales_spiel-aton3832_low.jpg

Aquiline

Aquiline - hooked or curved like an eagle's beak.

Example - "He's told me I have an aquiline nose"

Image - http://vocabmadeeasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/aquiline.png

Wisecrack

Wisecrack - a sarcastic remark.

Image - https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/business-commerce-stock-public_punishment-public-stock_options-wisecracks-bven992_low.jpg

Speed

Speed - something that matches one's tastes or inclinations.

Example - "This is not really my speed. I will have to pass"

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/40/44/a9/4044a960de03a54d002c343207effc76.jpg

To zip around

To zip around - to move quickly.

Example - "We zipped around the supermarket to get the shopping done"

Image  - https://static1.squarespace.com/static/55c2574be4b0f33d21ef4841/t/5606ed9ae4b053dd464feef8/1443294619743/

To blow off some steam

To blow off some steam - to release emotional tension by talking or getting angry.

Example - "I told her she can call me and talk any time she wants to blow off some steam"

Image - http://media2.intoday.in/btmt/images/stories/angermanagement505_041814044823.jpg

To wait for the other shoe to drop

To wait for the other shoe to drop - to wait for the inevitable next step or the final conclusion.

Example - "He just opened his mail and moaned. Now I am waiting for the other shoe to drop when he finds the subpoena"

Image - http://powerofted.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/nextshoedrop.jpg

Gun-shy

Gun-shy - nervous about doing something.

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors20/steve-fernandez-quote-were-not-gun-shy-if-we-see-reviews-from-customer.jpg

Saucer-eyed

Saucer-eyed - eyes wide open, naturally or from an an expression of fear.

Image - https://latimesphoto.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/fa_28_knotts930xx.jpg

Leave to own devices

Leave to own devices - to allow you to decide for yourself what you do.

Example - "There are four hours of lessons each morning, and in the afternoon students are left to their own devices"

Image - http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-if-i-was-left-to-my-own-devices-you-would-see-about-ten-t-shirts-in-rotation-with-maybe-daniel-radcliffe-23-88-60.jpg

Kingpin

Kingpin - the chief person in a group.

Example - "He's showed me a list of suspected drug kingpins in Washington"

Image - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6a/Kingpinm.png

Mortarboard

Mortarboard - 

Image - http://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/media/english/fullsize/h/hat/hats_/hats.jpg

Neck-deep

Neck-deep - deeply involved.

Example - "I am neck-deep in work"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors23/tmb/jasbir-singh-quote-we-are-neck-deep-in-debt-we-are-left-with-no-other.jpg

One's handwriting is like chicken scratch

One's handwriting is like chicken scratch - very poor, messy or illegible handwriting.

Example - "I can't understand your notes at all! Your handwriting is like chicken scratch"

Image - http://cdn.docjokes.com/i/0e/80/33/3a/40/chicken-scratch-writing_original.jpg?1454435052

To twist someone's arm

To twist someone's arm - to persuade someone to do something that they might be reluctant to do.

Example - "I had to twist her arm a little but she agreed"

Image - http://www.clipartkid.com/images/354/the-twisted-arm-error-the-clean-slate-addiction-site-hZ6U5B-clipart.jpg

To weather the storm

To weather the storm - to reach the end of a very difficult situation without too much harm or damage.

Example - "Bob lost his job, but somehow his family weathered the storm"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors20/frank-lane-businessman-quote-if-you-want-to-see-the-sunshine-you-have.jpg

To drum up

To drum up - to bring something about by persistent effort.

Example - "The manager tried to drum interest up in the computer training classes"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors30/cecil-flowe-quote-people-can-drum-up-all-the-negativity-they-can-drum.jpg

To buck up

To buck up - to get over something; to cheer up.

Example - "Come on, now. Buck up! Things can't be all that bad"

Image - http://www.keepcalmstudio.com/_gallery/300/JvYdr9.png

To have skin in the game

To have skin in the game - to be at risk financially because you have invested in something that you want to happen.

Example - "You take more ownership of something when you have some skin in the game"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibX8Xhmyg5IfZHKlBgZ5rFssmTvYKnM7NJnJSQ3PvzN4ZUSlMBnfnYXm88RqyzfQgYGt11Td5TtNMXTFLpRWZPrilkpkP-zi8jsrk8qtCOdZoaHhUl14XGBhHv66WUbh54yFIEvOall4I/s1600/Skin-in-the-Game.png

Hitch your wagon to a star

Hitch your wagon to a star - always aspire to do great things; set high goals. 

Image - http://media.santabanta.com/images/picsms/2014/sms-8828.jpg

To belabor

To belabor - to argue or elaborate in excessive detail.

Example - "Critics thought they belabored the obvious"

Image - http://www.stus.com/sv/images/020404.gif

To cash in

To cash in - to take advantage or exploit a situation.

Example - "Profiteers cashed in during the gasoline shortage"

Image - http://www.shescribes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/cash-in-hand.jpg

A song and dance

A song and dance - a long or complicated statement or story, especially one that is not true.

Example - "She gave me some song and dance about her kids always being sick and not being able to get to the meetings"

Image - http://boardofwisdom.com/cachetogo/images/quotes/549168.png

A day late and a dollar short

A day late and a dollar short - late and ill-prepared.

Example - "You seem to show up a day late and a dollar short all the time. You need to get organized"

Image - http://images.wisegeek.com/stopwatch-and-coins.jpg

To dig your heels in

To dig your heels in - to refuse to alter one's course of actions or opinions; to be obstinate.

Example - "I'm digging in my heels. I am not coming back"

Image - http://i.quoteaddicts.com/media/q1/714096.png

Wake up and smell the coffee

Wake up and smell the coffee! - used to tell someone that they are wrong about a particular situation and must realize what is really happening.

Image - http://images.eggcupandblanket.co.uk/images/products/zoom/1314473177-76054600.jpg

Can it!

Can it! - stop talking; be quiet.

Example - "You should have told him to can it straight away"

Image - http://files.ctctcdn.com/20f8b3a9101/3245ffc6-2c9b-4383-808e-c24a03d9b9a1.jpg

Nail in the coffin

Nail in the coffin - an action that will cause something to end.

Example - "This latest evidence could be the final nail in the coffin for Jackson's case"

Image - http://usofarn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/filepicker-eX2vlXUQkeOo9KIDsulO_nail_in_coffin.jpg

To flame out

To flame out - to fail spectacularly and especially prematurely.

Example - "Even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used"

Image - https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000560313918/d77a8686052518a972533d3124229a88_400x400.png

Spiffing

Spiffing - excellent; splendid.

Example - "How spiffing you look!"

Image - https://sites.create-cdn.net/siteimages/33/5/5/335537/13/3/4/13344952/500x500.jpg?1473701124

To plead the fifth

To plead the fifth - to decline to give self-incriminating information.

Example - "- So, who do you like best? Jenny or Kim? - I will have to plead the fifth on that one"

Image - https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/politics-law-lawyers-attorneys-judges-courts-rma0243_low.jpg

The best of a bad bunch

The best of a bad bunch - the person or thing of a group that is not as bad as the others, although none of the group is good.

Example - "The picture isn't exactly what I would have chosen, but it was the best of a bad bunch"

Image - http://www.kscs.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/p16_images/Options.jpg

To miss the boat

To miss the boat - to be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity.

Example - "I sent off my university application at the last minute and almost missed the boat"

Image - https://1040.staticserve.net/assets/blog/images/late-filing.jpg

To knock someone's socks off

To knock someone's socks off - to surprise someone thoroughly.

Example - "The exciting news just knocked my socks off"

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3f/42/22/3f42224dc2211091f177695d68d9e559.jpg

Uphill battle

Uphill battle - something very difficult because other people are causing problems for you.

Example - "Environmentalists face an uphill battle convincing people to use their cars less."

Image - http://i.nextmedia.com.au/Utils/ImageResizer.ashx?n=http%3A%2F%2Fi.nextmedia.com.au%2FNews%2Fuphill_challenge_boulder_shutterstock.jpg&w=480&c=0&s=1

Put all eggs in one basket

Put all eggs in one basket - to make everything dependent on only one thing.

Example - "I advise you to diversify and not put all eggs in one basket"

Image - http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54e476b6e4b02a41587ac793/5500d1c1e4b073563bd4f55b/5500d1c2e4b073563bd4f664/1426117097698/bigstock-All-Eggs-In-One-Basket-Cartoon-75053410.jpg

Whole enchilada

Whole enchilada - everything; the entirety of something.

Example - "Richard wants the whole enchilada"

Image - http://www.jarofquotes.com/img/quotes/06487b6aa8b78190838c3593f3bf236c.jpg

Small potatoes

Small potatoes - something or someone insignificant

Example - "The contract is small potatoes, but it keeps us in business till we get into the real money"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors29/tmb/bob-blanchard-quote-this-is-no-small-potatoes-it-wont-be-pretty.jpg

Stoked

Stoked - excited or euphoric.

Example - "When they told me I was on the team, I was stoked!"

Image - http://img.picturequotes.com/2/347/346812/i-would-love-to-be-a-travel-writer-id-be-so-stoked-quote-1.jpg

Rotten apple

Rotten apple - a single bad person or thing.

Example - "There is always a rotten apple to spoil it for the rest of us"

Image - http://fictionwritersreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom_Toro_1.jpg

Bowl of cherries

Bowl of cherries - wonderful; very pleasant.

Example - "I got a promotion and got engaged in the span of a week. Life is just a bowl of cherries these days"

Image - http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/12454-Life-Isnt-A-Bowl-Of-Cherries.jpg

Big cheese

Big cheese - an important, successful or influential person.

Example - "Jacob thinks he's a big cheese now that he's been promoted to assistant manager"

Image - http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.133354496.4768/flat,800x800,070,f.u3.jpg

Milk of human kindness

Milk of human kindness - natural kindness and sympathy shown to others.

Example - "Mary is completely hard and selfish - she doesn't have the milk of human kindness in her"

Image - http://orig14.deviantart.net/bf5a/f/2010/285/1/3/milk_of_human_kindness_by_luckodedraw-d30npcp.jpg

To have bigger fish to fry

To have bigger fish to fry - to have other things to do; to have more important things to do.

Example - "I don't have time for your problem. I have bigger fish to fry"

Image - http://albert.tips/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/09.png

Mosey

Mosey - a leisure walk or drive.

Example - "I will just have a mosey around"

Image - https://www.firstgiving.com/imaging/stock/2c4c4a81-2acd-4378-9fb2-4a736047e1b2.jpg

Gall

Gall - rudeness and the quality of being unable to understand that your behaviour or what you say is not acceptable to other people.

Example - "Considering that he never even bothers to visit my parents, I'm amazed that Tim has the gall to call them for money"

Image - http://img.picturequotes.com/2/557/556710/hes-sure-got-a-lotta-gall-to-be-so-useless-and-all-quote-1.jpg

Touch-and-go

Touch-and-go - dangerous and uncertain in nature or outcome.

Example - "He just had major surgery followed by touch-and-go recovery"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzvo1veGsKZSvfIi7x8nwRrHZZGqrrsJiZkMt1VOahXpDDrXlFp6KA67800sGsxl0_G_pJqFuD5cM8qd9aknYLG5XL-jmqZneBbAaCsVFsjQ-Nzp637jrxJTOB_cU1FXQK13i7qttuT4/s1600/TOUCH+AND+GO-GO-GO+TITLE+CARD.png

Knee-jerk reaction

Knee-jerk reaction - a quick reaction that does not allow you time to consider something carefully.

Image - https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0337/8029/files/Knee_Jerk_large.png?886

To take a spill

To take a spill - to have a fall, or to tip over.

Example - "Ann tripped on the curb and took a nasty spill"

Image - http://cdn.playbuzz.com/cdn/3ee42b64-2a24-45ec-9024-18074a5e7f53/a58a3d50-9129-4add-8ed5-812230091b6e.jpg

To placate

To placate - to make someone less angry or hostile.

Example - "They attempted to placate the students with promises"

Image - http://www.weaponsofmathdestruction.com/comics/128-placate-print.jpg