Spellbinding

Spellbinding - holding one's attention completely as though by magic; fascinating.

Example - "We went to a place of spellbinding beauty"

Image - http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/Images/Spellbinding_tcm31-156978.jpg

To ebb

To ebb - to decrease gradually.

Example - "My enthusiasm was ebbing away."

Image - http://s3.amazonaws.com/four.livejournal/20080311/ebb.png

Inane

Inane - lacking sense or meaning; silly.

Example - "Don't badger people with inane questions."

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

To talk shop

To talk shop - to discuss matters concerning one's work, especially at a social occasion when this is inappropriate.

Example - "They would incessantly talk shop in the village pub."

Image - http://thetalkshopllc.com/images/the-talk-shop-logo---black.jpg

Get-go

Get-go - from the very beginning.

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/66/13/8b/66138bc26e65b11d6f1386698078d97c.jpg

To bark up the wrong tree

To bark up the wrong tree - to make the wrong choice, to ask the wrong person, to follow the wrong course.

Image - http://www.rackafracka.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/616-Barking-up-the-wrong-tree-COLOR-c-e1412013978208.jpg

Bull-headed

Bull-headed - determined in an obstinate and unthinking way.

Example - "She's got this bulheaded belief that she's always right."

Image - http://marques.silvaclan.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/stubborn-hound.jpg

Penchant

Penchant - a strong or habitual liking for something or tendency to do something.

Example - "He has a penchant for adopting stray dogs."

Image - http://www.stormthetest.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/penchant.jpg

Bane

Bane - a cause of great distress or annoyance.

Example - "The telephone was the greatest bane of my life"

Image - http://drjacksinger.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/distessed-man.jpg

Trumped up

Trumped up - invented as an excuse or a false accusation.

Example - "He was arrested on trumped-up charges."

Image - http://i.imgur.com/OheNSWI.jpg

House of Cards

House of Cards - a flimsy structure or situation that is in danger of collapsing or failing.

Example - "We must plan this campaign implementing maximum precision, else it will disintegrate into a house of cards"

Image - http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/charlie2cute/47603453/8426/8426_original.jpg

Grifter

Grifter - fraudster; scammer.

Image - http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/sites/default/files/field/image/Gangsters%20and%20Grifters%20(3).jpg

To root out

To root out - to remove or eliminate completely; to get rid of something completely.

Image - http://www.azquotes.com/picture-quotes/quote-root-out-the-violence-in-your-life-and-learn-to-live-compassionately-and-mindfully-seek-nhat-hanh-37-32-94.jpg

To dabble

To dabble - to take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way.

Example - "I dabble in poetry."

Image - http://webmarketingtherapy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/The-stars-dont-align-for-those-who-just-dabble-image-10376089_10155089531745268_8366638418436921466_n.jpg

To ingratiate oneself with somebody

To ingratiate oneself with somebody - to curry favour; to make obvious efforts to gain someone's favours; to kiss up to someone.

Example - "He ingratiated himself with all the guests."

Image - http://dblackie.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341ca30853ef0154351e9ace970c-pi

Scrambler

Scrambler - An electronic device that scrambles telecommunication signals to make them unintelligible to anyone without a special receiver.

Image - http://www.cellphone-jammers.org/bmz_cache/1/1ac604bca36a35130fc6259b58070ad1.image.170x167.JPG

Sting

Sting - a carefully planned operation, typically one involving deception.

Example - "Five blackmailers were jailed last week after they were snared in a police sting."

Image - http://www.vakilno1.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/article-stings.jpg

Dead-set

Dead set - firmly decided or determined.

Example - His family was dead set against the marriage.

Image - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9NNqZx9emdc/maxresdefault.jpg

To tamper

To tamper - to interfere with, in order to cause damage or make unauthorized alterations.

Example - "Someone tampered with the brakes of my car."

Image - http://www.labelswest.com/images/products/security_and_tamper_evident_labels.jpg

Turncoat

Turncoat - a person who shifts allegiance from one loyalty or ideal to another, betraying or deserting an original cause by switching to the opposing side or party.

Image - http://cms.leadershiponline.co.za/image/a1b947a5f6624dc10e8c31ebff2dce0b.500x300.jpeg

Nark

Nark - a police informer.

Image - http://www.puregraffiti.com/graffiti-gallery/data/560/nark.jpg

Sullen

Sullen - bad-tempered and sulky.

Example - "He's got a sullen teenager daughter who does not respect anyone at all."

Image - http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01245/british_teen_1245472c.jpg

Inscrutable

Inscrutable - impossible to comprehend.

Image - http://wordinfo.info/words/images/inscrutable-3.jpg

Liability

Liability - a person or thing whose behaviour or presence is likely to put one at a disadvantage; risk, burden.

Example - "I don't want to be a liability to you."

Image - http://cleaningcommercialjanitorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/LiabilitySalonSick.jpg

To bench

To bench - to withdraw someone from something.

Example - "Peter's benched me."

Image - http://cf.mp-cdn.net/25/03/3f07bed7c80e6553f1ee5b8267ce-should-professional-sports-teams-spend-less-money-on-bench-warmers.jpg

Savant

Savant - a learned person, especially a distinguished scientist.

Image - https://nationalpostcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/maths.jpg?w=620

To wallow in

To wallow in - to experience an abundance of something; to indulge in an unrestrained way.

Example - They are just wallowing in money.

Image - http://www.writtalin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/money-bath.jpg

To deal in

To deal in - to buy and sell particular goods as a business.

Example - "They mainly deal in rare books."

Image - http://www.coullon.com/img/portfolio/dealin1.png

To face up to

To face up to - to accept that a difficult situation exists.

Example - "She's going to have to face up to the fact that he's not going to marry her."

Image - http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51u8hH0wfUL.jpg

To weed out

To weed out - to remove something unwanted or undesirable from a group or collection.

Example - "We had to weed the less productive workers out one by one."

Image - http://www.foodserviceindustrynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/iStock_000005963819XSmall.jpg

As right as rain

As right as rain - perfectly fine; in good health condition.

Example - "He was very ill but he is as right as rain now."

Image - http://image.slidesharecdn.com/idioms-140821072016-phpapp01/95/idioms-ingles-10-638.jpg?cb=1408607746

To be snowed under with

To be snowed under with - to have so much work to do that you have problems dealing with it all.

Example - "I am absolutely snowed under with work at the moment."

Image - https://inglesmalaga.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/snowed-under.jpg?w=500

Swanky

Swanky - very posh

Example - "We stayed in a swanky hotel in the Upper East Side."

Image - http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/rare/images/a/a4/Swanky_Kong_Artwork_-_Donkey_Kong_Country_2.png/revision/latest?cb=20120430224955

To shell out

To shell out - to spend a certain amount of money.

Example - "I'm not going to shell out 400 pounds for that!"

Image - http://business-money.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/money_2042199b.jpg

Treason

Treason - the crime of showing no loyalty to your country, especially by helping its enemies or trying to defeat its government.

Example - "In 1606, Guy Fawkes was executed for treason."

Image - http://heroclixworld.com/HCW/images_html/Scenarios/GunpowderTreasonAndPlot/GuyFawkes_cover.jpg

Shill

Shill - someone who helps another person to persuade people to buy something, especially pretending to be a satisfied customer.

Image - https://kunsoo1024.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/shill-card.png

Reprieve

Reprieve - to stop or delay the punishment, especially by death, of a prisoner.

Example - "He was ​sentenced to ​death but was ​granted a ​last-minute reprieve.."

Image - http://donationsstatic.ebay.com/extend/logos/MF20510.jpg

Smarmy

Smarmy - showing a lot of respect in a way that is regarded as insincere or excessive.

Example - She was trying to be friendly but she just seemed smarmy.

Image - http://stinkin-thinkin.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/smarmy2.jpg

Mole

Mole - a spy.

Example - "A well-placed mole was feeding them the names of operatives."

Image - https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/animals-mole-corporate_espionage-corporate_spies-confidential_files-competitors-bfrn434_low.jpg

Digs

Digs - lodgings, rooms.

Example - "Nice digs, Peter!"

Image - http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/03/fe/ed/29/posh-digs.jpg

To bequeath

To bequeath - to leave or give personal property by will.

Example - "She bequeathed her half of the company to her niece."

Image - http://www.quotationof.com/images/bequeath-quotes-4.jpg

To conscript

To conscript - to enlist someone compulsorily, typically into the armed services.

Example - "They were conscripted into the army."

Image - http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/mt/assets/politics/service%20full.png

To get wind of

To get wind of- to hear a rumour of; to learn a piece of information, especially when it has been a secret.

Example - "We have a crisis on our hands and don't want the press to get wind of it."

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/06/49/0e/06490eaec883d1723f02e7efa530872e.jpg

Subpoena

Subpoena - a request for the production of documents, or a request to appear in court or other legal proceeding.

Image - http://images.wisegeek.com/subpoena-form.jpg

To be on a clock

To be on a clock = to be working.

Example - "Could you hurry? I am kind of on a clock here."

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/92/6b/8e/926b8e40b6cc9f004b0411c411ea05df.jpg

At the risk of sounding immodest

At the risk of sounding immodest - used to introduce statements where the speaker praises himself; modesty aside.

Image - http://www.radicallychristian.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/modesty.jpg

Tantalizing

Tantalizing - exciting the senses or desires of someone.

Example - "She still tantalized him"

Image - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zKTojZuq3HQ/maxresdefault.jpg

To make headway

To make headway - to advance; to make progress.

Example - " We haven't made any headway with this project."

Image - http://shouttr.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/To-make-headway-improve-your-head.jpg

To have someone pegged

To have someone pegged - to think of someone in a certain way.

Example - "I had you pegged as an angry rebel before I got to know you."

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/e3/d5/db/e3d5dbd37f9b37789c9a82940c520281.jpg

To simmer

To simmer - to cook at or just below boiling point.

Example - "Simmer the ingredients in water for 5 minutes."

Image - https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/f4bbgjrh23povvwtxjxf.jpg