To strike a chord

To strike a chord - to cause someone to remember something.

Example - "His name strikes a chord but I am not sure why"

Image - https://shortfictionbythemagpie.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/electric_guitar_477100921.jpg

Pipe dream

Pipe dream - an unattainable  or fanciful hope.

Example - "Free trade in international aviation will remain a pipe dream"

Image - http://www.zafrocreative.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Pipe-Dream-72.jpg

To take something with a pinch of salt

To take something with a pinch of salt - to listen to a story or an explanation with considerable doubt.

Example - "You must take everything she says with a pinch of salt. She doesn't always tell the truth"

https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/medical-take_with_a_grain_of_salt-blood_pressures-salt_intakes-salts-doctor-cwln3501_low.jpg

A figment of your imagination

A figment of your imagination - something created by your mind.

Example - "I thought I saw someone standing in the shadows but it was just a figment of my imagination"

Image - http://boardofwisdom.com/cachetogo/images/quotes/323693.png

To soldier on

To soldier on - to continue doing something although it is difficult.

Example - "I admire the way she soldiered on when her business ran into trouble"

Image - https://fishcommunitysolutions.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/soldier-on.jpg

Totting up

Totting up - the accumulation of penalty points on someone's driving license leading to disqualification.

Image - http://www.5starcover.co.uk/media/filer_public/f4/19/f419e4d0-7c11-4c28-a5d7-9770e57c8c02/totting-up.png

To dwindle

To dwindle - to diminish gradually in size, amount or strength.

Example - "They dwindle in size but they do not actually die"

Image - http://colorbay.com/images/diminish_size_004.gif

Fat chance

Fat chance - very little likelihood.

Example - "Fat chance he has of getting a promotion"

Image - http://boardofwisdom.com/cachetogo/images/quotes/262516.png

To wash your hands of

To wash your hands of - to end one's association with someone or something.

Example - "That car was a real headache. I washed my hands of it long ago"

Image - https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-3bbe5582ba427b66fb9d0b238529f054

To pan out

To pan out - to end; to conclude.

Example - "He's happy with the way the deal panned out"

Image - https://wishingyouwellcartoons.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/may-your-goals-pan-out-cartoon.jpg

To put your finger on something

To put your finger on something - to discover the exact reason why a situation is the way it is, especially when something is wrong.

Example - "There's something odd about him but I can't quite put my finger on it"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors28/mike-ireland-quote-i-cant-put-my-finger-on-whats-the-problem.jpg

At a low ebb

At a low ebb - a point or state of decline.

Example - "I was recently divorced and feeling at a very low ebb"

Image - http://crewtoo.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Downward-graph.jpg

To keep the wolf from the door

To keep the wolf from the door - to have enough money to avert hunger or starvation.

Example - "I work part-time to pay the mortgage and keep the wolf from the door"

Image - https://adrianlilly.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/wolf-at-the-door.jpg

To reserve judgement

To reserve judgement - to delay the process of judging someone or giving one's opinion.

Example - "She said she would reserve judgment on that until next week"

Image - http://cdn.someecards.com/someecards/usercards/i-have-realised-i-am-guilty-of-judging-people-to-quickly-from-now-on-ill-reserve-judgement-till-i-get-to-know-them-better-and-realise-they-are-not-as-nice-as-i-thought-398b1.png

To be the spitting image of somebody

To be the spitting image of somebody - to look extremely similar to someone.

Example - "Josie is the spitting image of her granny at the same age"

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/96/90/93/969093f96483e3d81f5a29a31d1541d0.jpg

Pointers

Pointers - a piece of advice, especially on  how to succeed in a specific area.

Example - "The food expert gave some good pointers on making better salads"

Image - http://parentingmojo.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Advice.jpg

To take stock

To take stock - to think carefully about a situation or event and form an opinion about it so that you can decide what to do.

Example - "After two years spent teaching overseas, she returned home for a month to take stock of her life"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors63/charles-kennedy-quote-it-is-time-to-take-stock-and-to-listen-and-then.jpg

To stultify

To stultify - to prevent new ideas from happening.

Example - "These countries are trying to shake off the stultifying effects of several decades of state control"

Image - http://images.digopaul.com/wp-content/uploads/related_images/2015/09/09/stultify_3.jpg

Miffed

Miffed - somewhat annoyed.

Example - "She turned around, looking slightly miffed"

Image - http://www.relatably.com/m/img/miffed-memes/63992860.jpg

Rousing

Rousing - done or said with great enthusiasm.

Example - "She was met with a rousing reception"

Image - http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/04/e0/jump_16.jpg?itok=4ypAN-WE

To be fobbed off

To be fobbed off - to persuade someone to accept something that is of a low quality or different from what they really wanted.

Example - "He tried to fob off an inferior brand on us"

Image - http://www.guestwalker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Greedy-Solicitor-691x460.jpg

To take a toll on someone/something

To take a toll on someone/something - to cause damage or wear by using something or by hard living.

Example - "Years of sunbathing took a toll on Mary's skin"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0_F39AtDYsoi58xu0O-jxj_AhQTOyeU9p0LB7SqL12FmaK5JJ2J0Hv7VUWie-kwAVxjMvDfWvTwa_nRAvJmeUfmvCqhlmvSklROW23Pm52duDxhLpcn-TtMypDn-lu27pasWCVzjlnBS/s1600/Tired-writer-794398.jpg

To heed

To heed - to pay careful attention to somebody's advice or warning.

Example - "They failed to heed the lessons of history"

Image - http://waracle.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Its-fine-to-celebrate-success....jpg

Back-to-back

Back-to-back - consecutively; in succession.

Example - "He said he's having back-to-back surgeries today"

Image - http://pad3.whstatic.com/images/thumb/c/cb/Add-Consecutive-Integers-from-1-to-100-Step-2.jpg/aid1275929-728px-Add-Consecutive-Integers-from-1-to-100-Step-2.jpg

Baloney

Baloney - nonsense.

Example - "No matter how you word it, it's still baloney"

Image - http://img13.deviantart.net/8f35/i/2014/247/6/0/bunch_a_baloney_by_minxiejinxielynxie-d7xxu1t.png

To earn a crust

To earn a crust - to earn just enough money to live on.

Example - "I've been an actor for years, earning a crust wherever I can"

Image - http://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Money-generic-e1406654638901.jpg

To grate one somebody's nerves

To grate one somebody's nerves - to annoy someone a lot, especially by doing something again and again.

Example - "The telephone hasn't stopped ringing all morning and it was starting to grate on my nerves"

Image - https://cdn.meme.am/instances/400x/45841466.jpg

Delinquent

Delinquent - overdue in payment; failing in one's duty.

Example - "She has been delinquent in paying her taxes"

Image - http://therealdeal.com/miami/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/delinquent-notice.jpg

Apoplectic

Apoplectic  - overcome with anger; furious.

Example - "I'm about to have an apoplectic attack!"

Image - http://www.modernluxury.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/story-photo-with-inset-main/unnamed_9.jpg

Pressing

Pressing - requiring quick or immediate action or attention.

Example - "Inflation was the most pressing problem"

Image - http://www.newsalescoach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/urgent-running-man-e1402541815916.jpg

Toiling

Toiling - hard and continuous work

Image - http://207jbxmvmgshm4prrou0t7hu.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/small__51568417.jpg

Magpie

Magpie - a person who collects and sorts different things.

Image - http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0515/8033/products/P1050378_resized.JPG?v=1414706738

To naysay

To naysay - to take a pessimistic or negative view of.

Example - "They will naysay any policy that raises taxes"

Image - http://cdn.marksdailyapple.com/wordpress/wp-content/themes/Marks-Daily-Apple-Responsive/images/blog/bubbles.jpg

Snug as a bug in a rug

Snug as a bug in a rug - wrapped up tight, warm, and comfortable.

Example - "Are you warm enough? Yes, I am as snug as a bug in a rug"

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b3/b1/ae/b3b1ae8fd48cc9e83d508240053e75a7.jpg

To tend to somebody/something

To tend to somebody/something - to deal with the problems or needs of a person or thing.

Example - "Nurses tended to the injured"

Image - https://rogerseiblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/cropped-nurse-patient1.jpg

To give somebody a run for their money

To give somebody a run for their money - to compete very strongly against someone who is expected to win a competition.

Example - "He'll give those professional players a run for their money"

Image - http://dqbasmyouzti2.cloudfront.net/assets/content/cache/made/content/images/articles/Sword_Fight_Shutterstock_410_282_c1.png

Struck off

Struck off - if someone with a responsible job such as a doctor or a lawyer is struck off, they are officially not allowed to continue in that work because of having done something seriously wrong.

Example - "A solicitor who insulted two officials from the Law Society was struck off for abusive behaviour"

Image - http://media.cirrusmedia.com.au/LW_Media_Library/Banned-solicitor.JPG

To demur

To demur - to express disagreement or refuse to do something.

Example - "Normally, she would have accepted the challenge but she demurred"

Image - https://lawhimsy.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/demur-definition-word-nerd-via-lawhimsy.png

Gaping

Gaping - wide open.

Example - "There was a gaping hole in the wall"

Image - http://www.savethehippos.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Hippo_Bull_gaping_1024-650x680.jpg

To bone up on

To bone up on - to learn as much as you can about something for a special reason.

Example - "She boned up on economics before applying for the job"

Image - https://thekoterie.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/studying2.jpg

To stake a claim

To stake a claim - to show that you believe something is yours.

Example - "He marked the spot on his map where he had seen the gold and returned later that month to stake his claim"

Image - http://www.gayweddingphotographers.com/wp-content/uploads/stake-your-claim.jpg

To level with somebody

To level with somebody - to tell someone the truth; to be straightforward with someone about something.

Example - "Level with me and tell me what you thought of my cake"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziCd6HDz66hRlBvFHOcUbyCvURbISiDXdL43fsPjPin_6VsFdSwcB2sLpIITYzf8UL9KcYdv1rMtVTS5DuSbFHwINXoOFe9hXxoUm4btfToA0detDn2fen9CXSKbRm52cZuk4mVDJ15a9//

Not know somebody from Adam

Not know somebody from Adam - to have never met someone and not know anything about them.

Example - "Why should I lend him money? I don't know him from Adam."

Image - http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-eve-said-to-the-serpent-you-know-i-could-go-for-a-bit-to-eat-but-i-don-t-know-you-from-red-buttons-139-35-51.jpg

To impale

To impale - to pierce with a sharp instrument; to pierce with a pointed object.

Example - "Impale a marshmallow or two on that stick and let's start toasting"

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c2/cf/33/c2cf3379dd7298cb9ed79f2569ccfc77.jpg

Shoddy

Shoddy - badly made or done.

Example - "We're not paying good money for shoddy goods"

Image - http://www.pilgrimsway.org.uk/images/20141027_084541.jpg

To allay

To allay - to diminish or put at rest.

Example - "The report attempted to educate the public and allay fears"

Image - http://wordinfo.info/words/images/allay-1.jpg

Forlornly

Forlornly - miserably.

Example - "A single chicken was scratching forlornly in the yard"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3TKlaTAcsLMks3bDJwCqIizF-Ni-jrq-t_O6XS6SxZ2dfrB8NSnBAzOM6V_Cn8oMmBdAED2NpaOEX-BZqvmhopSvTPBsxQauFBnuROOpd8LASkPzB_DZ4Kbk4V_WWr-nkrOoT_UNKIw/s1600/Disappointed_Plate3.jpg

To take point

To take point - to assume leadership on a task.

Image - https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/491321711350915073/CTM6iUvf.png

Telltale

Telltale - revealing; allowing a secret to become known.

Example - "She found lipstick on his shirts - a telltale sign he was having an affair"

Image - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-FS_KUZ0Rug/maxresdefault.jpg

Cheesed off

Cheesed off- annoyed or disappointed with someone or something.

Example - "I'm about to get cheesed off in a minute"

Image - https://hagarlanguages.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/cheesed-off.jpg