Example - "We're keeping our relationship under the radar because we don't want her father to know about us yet"
Image - http://suncreststudentlife.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/under-the-radar.jpg
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Under the radar
Under the radar - doing something without other people noticing.
Example - "We're keeping our relationship under the radar because we don't want her father to know about us yet"
Example - "We're keeping our relationship under the radar because we don't want her father to know about us yet"
Mishmash
Mishmash - a confused mixture.
Example - "The painting was just a mishmash of colours and abstract shapes as far as we could tell"
Example - "The painting was just a mishmash of colours and abstract shapes as far as we could tell"
Image - https://vsee.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/mishmash.jpg
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Under the sun
Under the sun - on earth; in existence.
Example - "They exchanged views on every subject under the sun"
Image - http://quotes.lifehack.org/media/quotes/quote-Elizabeth-Mitchell-i-normally-eat-everything-under-the-sun-230823_1.png
Monday, March 28, 2016
To pine for
To pine for - to long or grieve intensely for someone or something.
Example - "Many teachers pine for the days when students were better behaved"
Example - "Many teachers pine for the days when students were better behaved"
Image - http://blog.steamcrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/pine_for_you_preview_soc_med.jpg
Formidable
Formidable - inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
Example - "He had to fight a formidable adversary"
Example - "He had to fight a formidable adversary"
Image - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ijWWByRp5lM/maxresdefault.jpg
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Vested interest
Vested interest - a personal reason for involvement in an undertaking or situation, especially an expectation of financial or other gain.
Example - "Banks have a vested interest in the growth of their customers"
Example - "Banks have a vested interest in the growth of their customers"
Image - http://cdn.quotationof.com/images/vested-interest-quotes-1.jpg
To raise one's hackles
To raise one's hackles - to annoy someone.
Example - "Jim could raise her hackles quickly, but she enjoyed being with him anyway"
Example - "Jim could raise her hackles quickly, but she enjoyed being with him anyway"
Image - https://lovely2cu.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/chihuahas-i-hate.jpg?w=840
doubting Thomas
Doubting Thomas - a person who is skeptical and refuses to believe something without proof.
Example - "I was a real doubting Thomas. I didn't believe the stuff would work"
Example - "I was a real doubting Thomas. I didn't believe the stuff would work"
Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0cBbWi7eJJEWsQ5YgLMpTBrPyYGrkwljt3I0A1wbXx7ZD7vwlhmGB87Rr7BDglZM-uOwwq4FaVYvT2s5sjJUXfHAyAM0VvjtTqMXwWm4RDl5TP2OYU6zyZTQyiF09V71A3_x1lK2kesW/s640/Doubting+Thomas+cartoon.jpg
To pick up/take up the slack
To pick up/take up the slack - to do the work that someone else has stopped doing but still needs to be done.
Example - "If Sue gets a job, Mark will have to take up the slack at home"
Example - "If Sue gets a job, Mark will have to take up the slack at home"
Image - http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/can-you-bitch-about-your-difficult-life-later-we-are-too-busy-picking-up-all-of-your-slack--6ff31.png
Pandora's box
Pandora's box - a source of extensive but unforeseen troubles or problems.
Example - "The senate investigation turned out to be a Pandora's box for the administration"
Example - "The senate investigation turned out to be a Pandora's box for the administration"
Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors17/james-waters-quote-were-opening-up-a-pandoras-box-be-careful-what-you.jpg
Can of worms
Can of worms - a situation that causes a lot of problems for you when you start to deal with it.
Example - "When you brought that up, you opened a whole new can of worms"
Example - "When you brought that up, you opened a whole new can of worms"
Image - http://media.sdreader.com/img/croppedphotos/2014/10/01/FloodgatesPandorasboxCanofworms_t670_t658.jpg?ff95ca2b4c25d2d6ff3bfb257febf11d604414e5
Indefatigable
Indefatigable - persisting tirelessly.
Example - "She's an indefatigable defender of human rights"
Example - "She's an indefatigable defender of human rights"
Image - http://33.media.tumblr.com/c7493b3a1be4cadc9250dbce99d53cfc/tumblr_inline_nigeizeQpY1qbolbn.jpg
To gel
To gel - to come together, to unite, to combine.
Example - "The new players have gelled very well with the rest of the team"
Example - "The new players have gelled very well with the rest of the team"
Image - http://quotes.lifehack.org/media/quotes/quote-Antoine-Fuqua-some-men-dont-gel-when-it-comes-87712.png
To press/push one's luck
To press/push one's luck - to try too hard to get a particular result and risk losing what you have achieved.
Example - "She's agreed to help on Saturday, but I think I'd be pushing my luck if I asked her to be here the whole weekend"
Example - "She's agreed to help on Saturday, but I think I'd be pushing my luck if I asked her to be here the whole weekend"
Image - http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/t/know-limits-do-not-push-your-luck-illustration-felling-off-edge-50139984.jpg
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Out-and-out
Out-and-out - complete or in every way.
Example - "That's an out and out lie!"
Example - "That's an out and out lie!"
Image - http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-i-am-an-atheist-out-and-out-it-took-me-a-long-time-to-say-it-isaac-asimov-127-3-0367.jpg
To lead somebody up the garden path
To lead somebody up the garden path - to deceive someone.
Example - "We were led up the garden path about the cost of the building work - it turned out really expensive."
Example - "We were led up the garden path about the cost of the building work - it turned out really expensive."
Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZxRy8QcSWIegHAqFCn7V9a-noe-FNDVfJXJgZTmJvtx1eFNUb3fWgVZf3E9fJ-y4YeawrTctCRD9keWWvZcxDFT1x-ygoYfEaO0xsxy5rNeEQ6i54QMjC4W4TWFYFO6OLn3ZOaUbcGYx/s1600/GARDENPATH.JPG
Ethos
Ethos - the guiding beliefs of a person, group or organization.
Example - "The are working to keep a democratic ethos alive in the community"
Example - "The are working to keep a democratic ethos alive in the community"
Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors68/iain-dowie-quote-i-think-he-likes-it-he-fits-in-with-our-ethos-hes-a.jpg
To worship the ground somebody walks on
To worship the ground somebody walks on - to love and admire someone very much.
Example - "She always admired her Linguistics professor. In fact, she worshiped the ground he walked on"
Example - "She always admired her Linguistics professor. In fact, she worshiped the ground he walked on"
Image - http://www.jarofquotes.com/img/quotes/85ea74ac60cac4f82339cdf0adc115b0.jpg
Callous
Callous - showing or having an insensitive and cruel disregard for others.
Example - "His callous comments about the murder made me shiver"
Example - "His callous comments about the murder made me shiver"
Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors63/tmb/dennis-potter-dramatist-as-adults-we-do-know-more-but-we-dont-know.jpg
On the warpath
On the warpath - very angry.
Example - "The boss is on the warpath again. Watch out!"
Example - "The boss is on the warpath again. Watch out!"
Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors54/tmb/avery-shenfeld-quote-the-bank-of-canada-remains-on-the-warpath.jpg
To ream someone out
To ream someone out - to tell someone off severely because you strongly disapprove of their behaviour.
Example - "The boss reamed them out for sleeping on the job"
Example - "The boss reamed them out for sleeping on the job"
Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgucf5bOtPD4YUg5XT37JQ2cc3o_GmXAn505spFe2st2e3Dz0T7JktWZ-IqajJKreJhZuOW21VYuVRGfqGM8TrJkC0kBgeElgDaJIjktO9fS3YEobRrlUuRxRtTD4Q_JG2r4YPFhN7DjOLT/s400/iStock_000002686434XSmall_crop380w.jpg
Hazing rituals
Hazing rituals - activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group.
Image - http://static2.therichestimages.com/cdn/568/299/90/c/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/hazing2.jpg
Against one's better judgement
Against one's better judgement - if you do something against your better judgement, you do it although you think it is wrong.
Example - "I lent him the money against my better judgement"
Example - "I lent him the money against my better judgement"
Image - http://www.jarofquotes.com/img/quotes/e1e9eec24edd4686b9a1f85f96826236.jpg
One shallow does not make a summer
One shallow does not make a summer
Image - http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/cfs-file.ashx/__key/communityserver-blogs-components-weblogfiles/00-00-00-48-52/1022679.JPG
To propound
To propound - to suggest to a person or a group of people to consider.
Example - "Her new book expands upon the theory propounded in her first book"
Example - "Her new book expands upon the theory propounded in her first book"
Image - http://wordinfo.info/words/images/propound-1.jpg
Latitude
Latitude - how much freedom you have in making choices.
Example - "He allowed his children considerable latitude in how they spent their money"
Example - "He allowed his children considerable latitude in how they spent their money"
Image - http://quotes.lifehack.org/media/quotes/quote-Susie-Orbach-mothers-unconsciously-allow-more-latitude-to-sons-136198_2.png
Specious
Specious - superficially plausible but actually wrong.
Example - "Your argument is largely specious"
Example - "Your argument is largely specious"
Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors18/tmb/rene-angelil-quote-preposterous-plot-specious-and-false.jpg
Whirlpool
Whirlpool - a situation in which you lose control of what is happening, usually in an unpleasant way.
Example - "She endured a whirlpool of conflicting emotions last year"
Example - "She endured a whirlpool of conflicting emotions last year"
Image - http://cdn.wideopenspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/whirlpool.jpg
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Squeaker
Squeaker - something achieved by a narrow margin.
Example - "In the last presidential elections, she won in a squeaker"
Example - "In the last presidential elections, she won in a squeaker"
Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors28/angela-taylor-quote-that-last-game-was-a-squeaker.jpg
Monday, March 21, 2016
Swathe
Swathe - a long strip or large area especially of land.
Example - "Huge swathes of rain-forest are being cleared for farming and mining"
Example - "Huge swathes of rain-forest are being cleared for farming and mining"
Image - http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02408/green-2_2408749b.jpg
Watch somebody or something with an eagle eye
Watch somebody or something with an eagle eye - to watch someone or something very closely.
Example - "The teacher was watching the children with an eagle eye, making sure they behaved themselves"
Example - "The teacher was watching the children with an eagle eye, making sure they behaved themselves"
Image - https://inspiration4generations.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/eagle-eye-11.jpg
At a rate of knots
At a rate of knots - very quickly.
Example - "She did her homework at a rate of knots so she could go out with her friends"
Example - "She did her homework at a rate of knots so she could go out with her friends"
Image - http://www.speaktomeenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/At-a-Rate-of-Knots.jpg
Bonhomie
Bonhomie /ˈbɒnəmiː/ - a feeling of friendliness among a group of people.
Example - "I was amazed by the bonhomie of strangers singing together around the campfire last night"
Example - "I was amazed by the bonhomie of strangers singing together around the campfire last night"
Image - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/HIfiXaXvCc0/maxresdefault.jpg
To speak volumes
To speak volumes - to express something very clearly without the use of words.
Example - "She said very little but her face spoke volumes"
Example - "She said very little but her face spoke volumes"
Image - http://orig10.deviantart.net/af42/f/2011/200/5/f/your_silence_speaks_volumes_by_digitalduckie-d411nr3.png
To run the gauntlet
To run the gauntlet - to have to deal with a lot of people who are criticizing or attacking you.
Example - "Every day they had to run the gauntlet of hostile journalists on their way to school"
Example - "Every day they had to run the gauntlet of hostile journalists on their way to school"
Image - http://www.cartoonww1.org/getfile/images/tn/14/prop/1/Mar131918Running%20the%20Gauntlet.jpg
To look in on
To look in on - to visit someone briefly.
Example - "The doctor said he'd look in on you tomorrow"
Example - "The doctor said he'd look in on you tomorrow"
Image - http://www.okulevraklari.com/sozluk/krt/Phrasal%20Verbs/look%20in%20on.jpg
Ineffectual
Ineffectual - not producing the desired effect.
Example - "She was neglectful and ineffectual as a parent"
Example - "She was neglectful and ineffectual as a parent"
Image - http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-as-soon-as-you-are-complicated-you-are-ineffectual-konrad-adenauer-141-53-06.jpg
Qualm
Qualm - a feeling of doubt or uncertainty about whether you are doing the right thing.
Example - "She accepted their offer without a qualm"
Example - "She accepted their offer without a qualm"
Image - http://wordinfo.info/words/images/qualm-1.jpg
To wig out
To wig out - to go completely wild.
Example - "One more drink and he will wig out"
Example - "One more drink and he will wig out"
Image - http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2009/galleries/twitpics/090803/shaq-660.jpg
To end something on a high note
To end something on a high note - to finish, complete or leave (something) at a successful, impressive or climactic point.
Example - "I know we've had quite a few losses this season, but let's win this game and end on a high note"
Example - "I know we've had quite a few losses this season, but let's win this game and end on a high note"
Image - http://thechiclife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/LetsEndOnAHighNote.jpg
Friday, March 18, 2016
Truism
Truism - a claim that is so obvious or self-evident as to be hardly worth mentioning.
Image - http://quotes.lifehack.org/media/quotes/quote-Norman-Finkelstein-everybody-wants-peace-thats-a-truism-there-177666.png
Tautological
Tautological - characterized by repetition and excessive wordiness.
Example - "His works cover nearly 40 volumes, often obscure, often tautological, and with no great distinction of style"
Example - "His works cover nearly 40 volumes, often obscure, often tautological, and with no great distinction of style"
Image - http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-the-great-struggle-of-history-has-been-for-the-control-over-money-it-is-almost-tautological-jack-weatherford-74-96-69.jpg
Incommunicado
Incommunicado - not able, wanting or allowed to communicate with other people.
Example - "The suspects were separated and detained incommunicado"
Example - "The suspects were separated and detained incommunicado"
Image - http://a.dilcdn.com/bl/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2012/05/marriage-incommunicado.jpg
To proliferate
To proliferate - to increase rapidly in number; to multiply.
Example - "Science fiction magazines proliferated in the 1920s"
Example - "Science fiction magazines proliferated in the 1920s"
Image - http://izquotes.com/quotes-pictures/quote-songs-are-funny-things-they-can-slip-across-borders-proliferate-in-prisons-penetrate-hard-pete-seeger-350905.jpg
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Pecking order
Pecking order - the way in which people or things in a group or organization are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status, a social hierarchy.
Example - "As an assistant manager, he was pretty low in the company's pecking order."
Example - "As an assistant manager, he was pretty low in the company's pecking order."
Image - https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6095/6344992855_7e6d457a69_z.jpg
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Slack-jawed
Slack-jawed - a person with the mouth in an open position and the jaw hanging loosely, especially as indicating bewilderment or astonishment.
Example - "She left us all slack-jawed with her news"
Example - "She left us all slack-jawed with her news"
Image - https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7206/6896176229_9f2ce22d7a.jpg
Monday, March 14, 2016
Inconspicuous
Inconspicuous - not clearly visible or attracting attention.
Example - "Their headquarters was an inconspicuous red-brick building"
Example - "Their headquarters was an inconspicuous red-brick building"
Image - https://images.rapgenius.com/6471d144b1d85c5e2e6876168c0d41b8.366x549x37.gif
To bask
To bask - to take great pleasure or satisfaction.
Example - "Britons can now finally bask in the sunshine"
Example - "Britons can now finally bask in the sunshine"
Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc4Z9hEiNRcv4zm6r83-T7fxk31S3JD3HkApk3grYPgVrlNGeKSweP8A78xzC-d6Ukf5icsuZmyPYk6laowMfff9EwmZH0w905xaGp1vhVyKuWte_pyAocYeXKzRHIrN6ZXBIiH0VlxWk/s1600/cat+sunbathing.jpg
Fancy-free
Fancy-free - not emotionally involved with or committed to anyone.
Example - "His recent divorce meant that he was footloose and fancy-free"
Example - "His recent divorce meant that he was footloose and fancy-free"
Image - https://dansideas.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/footloose-and-fancy-free.jpg
Flummoxed
Flummoxed - perplexed.
Example- "He became flummoxed and speechless"
Example- "He became flummoxed and speechless"
Image - https://larspsyll.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/flummoxed.jpg?w=360&h=224
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