To drum up

To drum up - to try to make people support you or buy something from you.

Example - "Advertisements should help to drum up business."

Image - http://papercut.fr/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DrumUpBusiness.jpg

To lull

To lull - to make someone feel relaxed or confident so that they are not prepared for anything unpleasant; to make someone relaxed enough to sleep.

Example - "The sound of rain falling soon lulled us to sleep."

Image - http://www.newbornbabyzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/pretty-baby.jpg

Hunch

Hunch - a feeling that something is true or will happen, although you do not know any definite facts about it.

Example - "I had a hunch Asia was gonna take the world."

Image - http://optimizeyourthinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/ive-got-a-hunch-harry-intuitive.jpg

Bouncer

Bouncer - a type of security guard employed at venues such as bars and nightclubs.

Example - "The bouncer told me to wait in the alley."

Image - http://www.worldwidedojo.com/reality-based/wp-content/uploads/bouncer.jpg

To cripple

To cripple - to damage something severely, or to prevent it from working properly.

Example - The war had crippled the country's economy.

Image - http://djstorm.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/screen-shot-2012-03-12-at-3-11-03-pm.png

Serendipitous

Serendipitous - pleasant and happening by chance.

Image - http://ascending-knowledge.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/serendipity.jpg

To sidetrack

To sidetrack - to delay the progress of something by causing people to waste time on something else that is unimportant.

Example - "It is easy to get sidetracked by Facebook posts."

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsopp7M_azn_j9JJrhqE4Q1p3751pGYB-FHO6JCGXzYHHdycx5xqh2RaqzFka6UQIA3t4iPAQvKHKjArS0ajMTRrwHQzDfd-aY_mX8lkMplVNM3DjsoYkwZQ_5auw4Tki0jVTA-tlvCrE/s1600/e38b73f5a22304b9fcd680ab8876c031.jpg

Trove

Trove - A large supply of something such as art or information.

Image - http://www.financialdirector.co.uk/IMG/320/268320/fdchest-370x229.jpg?1377259078

Ordeal

Ordeal - an extremely unpleasant situation, especially one that lasts for a long time.

Example - "They have suffered a terrible ordeal."

Image - http://www.prime.sg/en/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/108-Toothy-ordeal-1-620x250.jpg

To cower

To cower - to move your body down and away from someone because you are frightened.

Example - "The dog was cowering in a corner."

Image - http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs14/i/2007/083/a/a/544___cower_by_WolfcatStock.jpg

To rein in

To rein in - to limit or control something that has developed too much or has continued for too long.

Example - "France has asked its EU partners to rein in their criticism of nuclear testing."

Image - http://www.stepintodressage.com/imagesarticles/Hands_-_2_and_2.jpg

Unruly

Unruly - very difficult to control.

Image - http://www.poshseven.com/webimages/parenting/unruly_kids.jpg

To hold sway

To hold sway - to be the main influence on people's opinion or behaviour.

Example - "Moral arguments no longer seem to hold sway."

Image - http://www.boscoanthony.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/influencer1.jpg

To cram

To cram - to put people or things into a space that is too small.

Example - "Guards cram 40 prisoners into cells designed for 10"

Image - http://www.krakowpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/bus_cram.jpg

To perch

To perch - if you perch on something, or if you are perched on it, you sit on something that is narrow or small, and usually high, especially for a short time.

Example - "Rosie was perched on the arm of the couch."

Image - http://www.elderstore.com/images/products/Drive%20Medical/DR12455%20stoolMED2.jpg

To deface

To deface - to deliberately damage something valuable by writing on it or breaking it.

Image - http://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/20110909Vandalist_Bart.jpg

To capsize

To capsize - to be overturned in the water.

Example - The huge ferry carrying 475 passengers and 150 vehicles capsized and sunk off the coast of South Korea today.

Image - http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2012/01/Cruise-Ship-Runs-Aground/_jcr_content/par/cn_contentwell/par-main/cn_colctrl/par-col2/cn_blogpost/cn_image.size.cruise-ship-costa-concordia-capsize.jpg

To primp

To primp - to spend time making small changes to your appearance, especially in front of a mirror.

Image - https://dearfuturehubby.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/jane-birkin-primping.jpg

Lewd

Lewd - referring to sex in a rude or unpleasant way.

Example - "They tweeted a lewd image."

Image - https://0-media-cdn.foolz.us/ffuuka/board/u/image/1392/28/1392289814895.jpg

To hinge on

To hinge on - to depend on something

Example - "A lot hinges on the result of tomorrow's match."

Image - http://www.boltonhardware.com/images/product/hy-253535-630-rb-ss(nrp)%20huge.jpg

Distraught

Distraught - extremely worried, upset, or confused.

Image - http://daniela09.edublogs.org/files/2010/01/distraught.jpg

To fob off

To fob off - to give someone an answer or explanation that is not true or complete, in order to make them stop asking questions or complaining.

Example - "I'm tired of being fobbed off."

Image - http://94.136.40.103/~cheaper-school-prospectus.co.uk/fobbedoff/Fobbed_Off/Fobbed_Off_files/Fobbed%20Off%20Logo.png

Conducive

Conducive - creating a situation that helps something to happen.

Example - "Teachers need to create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning."

Image - http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/dept/jle/jle.gif

To lash out

To lash out - to criticize someone or something angrily.

Example - "They lashed out at the council's move to stop free parking."

Image - http://cdn.techinasia.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/lashing-out-online.jpg

To dovetail

To dovetail - to fit together or to work together well.

Example - "This idea dovetails with the new research led by that famous psychologist."

Image - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1b/Joinery-halfblinddovetail.gif

To commend

To commend - to praise someone or something formally or publicly.

Example - "His efforts were highly commended by his parents."

Image - http://pad1.whstatic.com/images/thumb/4/4f/Commend-Employees-Step-1.jpg/670px-Commend-Employees-Step-1.jpg

Chipper

Chipper - feeling happy and full of energy and hope.

Image - http://lolzombie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/happy.jpg

To smother

To smother - to cover someone or something completely.

Example - "The meat was smothered in thick sauce."

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8mB7KijDK8kV51WzDJcNm6RF6irHgmoG8Od0L3s6DgkOXkYE8-xpvudU9Scnb8jEJwTq9pgUUIptE7t3R6DH4DGKIufcgl4zDbkkIUYWy8JljusU3iG9swbQVekxankdM76_nmRNf7Y/s640/DSC06790.JPG

Tally

Tally - a record of the number of things someone has done, won or achieved. 

Example - "The company keeps a tally of legal cases lost and won."

Image - http://www.jeron.je/anglia/learn/sec/maths/concepts/large/16l.gif

To barter

To barter - to exchange goods or services for other good or services instead of using money.

Example - "We used to barter with the guards to get cigarettes."

Image - http://williamstake.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/barter.jpg

Spin-off

Spin-off - something good that happens unexpectedly as a result of something else.

Image - http://screenfad.screenfad.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/spin-off.jpg

Stubble

Stubble - the short stiff hair on a man's face.

Image - http://31.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ma51qaoawo1reuelko1_500.jpg

To slash

To slash - to reduce something by a large amount.

Example - "The budget had been slashed by 3 milllion pounds."

Image - http://mfrtech.com/pages_images/Clipart/25188428.jpg

Brazen

Brazen - Behaving in a way that is not moral or socially accepted, and not caring if other people are shocked or offended.

Example - "Carrying two shopping bags in tow, the woman exposed her naked behind to passersby and brazenly relieved herself in front of dozens of horrified shoppers in Northampton."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/police-hunt-woman-pictured-urinating-3403904#ixzz2yg9jk0vM 

Image - http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/boreas_rus/50825797/17361/17361_original.jpg

Decoy

Decoy - a person or thing that you use to trick someone into doing something or going somewhere.

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBlwVRx0KLuI_5eCferRwj-EtLoPFDpoNkMYI-KtAnwRVLGCmqlOaqA95uYZIBnUarP_0jaTvhQjKIr-9R7U2lSGSNIxs9u2FMkaU_BMGhStqc1HcJF5MGi_-ifjC27OO1sj6hh_5ctw/s1600/decoy+keyboard.jpg

Dogged

Dogged - determined to achieve something and continuing to try despite difficulties.

Example - "Their success was due to the dogged determination of their coach."

Image - http://petpitchusa.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/wobbler-with-dog.jpg

Kudos

Kudos - the praise and respect you get from other people because of something you have achieved.

Image - http://kudosforyou.yolasite.com/resources/kudos.jpg

Acumen

Acumen - the ability to make good quick decisions and judgments.

Example - "We are looking for someone with both business acumen and technical expertise."

Image - http://www.starresults.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Business-Acumen-Pitfalls.jpg

Sidekick

Sidekick - someone's friend or assistant.

Image - http://qualteam.tripod.com/qualteam/mccain-bush-sidekick.jpg

Abound

Abound - to be present in large numbers or amount.

Example - "Rumours abound about the breakup of her marriage."

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUDzFyJWyEZVqKt0o6hzeKjC03tktILWc8S8OR2braFcAByLEkxepPUCRPLhZdjWEyHfZeHaJDnNkBFSZB4DcLEURrURWcZ10U1K4yNXxofdhCAx_KwqXyTlnDWdb_S7KVgYyWTRkdp6F/s1600/Despicable_Me_Pic_1.jpg

To scour

To scour - to search a place or document thoroughly for something.

Example - "Navy divers are being used to scour the ocean".

Image - http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00537/Search_537947b.jpg

To scowl

To scowl - to twist your face into an expression that shows you are angry.

Example - "Now stop scowling and smile!"

Image - http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/11/17/article-2234405-1615CEC5000005DC-421_634x419.jpg

Surly

Surly - unfriendly and rude.

Example - "I just met a waiter with a surly attitude."

Image - http://images.smh.com.au/2013/01/17/3960241/art-353-Angry-French-Waiter-300x0.jpg

To faff

To faff - to waste time doing things that are not important or necessary.

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgexGafTyi18XH5Qt1jcjwzu8f5oaGPJhAuawYiINjqW6273snW6KPNowHy4e3LQ1VvLCGJOp0B8DxjmAwweSE6Es1y6FFucxx4JtrlNrUVJaJ6v5FSnvjkT0SyhB73jBt3iTn6agltUXl_/s1600/to+faff.jpg

To mill around/about

To mill around/about - to move about in large numbers in a confused way with no particular purpose.

Example - "There was a crowd of students milling about the library steps."

Image - http://www.person-centred-consultancies.com/USERIMAGES/milling%20around1.jpg

To hold/bear a grudge

To hold/bear a grudge - a feeling of anger towards someone because they have done something to you that does not seem right or fair.

Example - "There's a whole list of people who might bear a grudge against him."

Image - http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001830011/4350423566_coupleargue_xlarge.jpeg

To shriek

To shriek - to shout in a loud, high voice because you are excited, frightened or surprised; to say something in a very loud high voice.

Image - http://www.guitarworld.com/files/imagecache/futureus_imagegallery_fullsize/gallery/LW1%20Susan%20Carr%20Scream.png

To clang

To clang - if something made of metal clangs, or if you clang it, it makes a loud sound.

Example - "The bells were still clanging in the cathedral tower."

Image - http://www.timesnews.net/data/gnpics/2012/15403813backtoschool.jpg

Culprit

Culprit - someone who is responsible for doing something bad or illegal; the cause of something bad happening.

Example - "Police have so far failed to find the culprits."

Image - http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/330/5/7/the_hat_culprit_by_kiwi_kun-d5m8xiu.jpg

Skip

Skip - a very large metal container used in the building industry for waste. It is carried away by a truck when it is full.

Image - http://www.topskips.com/skip-hire-blog/wp-content/uploads/Topskips.com-Skip1.jpg