To seize on

To seize on - to use, accept or take advantage of something quickly and enthusiastically.

Example - "The story was seized on by the tabloid press, who printed it under huge headlines."

Image - http://us.cdn2.123rf.com/168nwm/icetray/icetray1201/icetray120120226/11924408-word-on-bronze-ornament.jpg

Skint

Skint - having little or no money available.

Image - http://www.bitterwallet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Skint.jpg

Absenteeism - a habitual pattern of absence from a duty or obligation.

Image - http://www.seachangeperu.com/media/trabajo/pasos/individual/extralaboral/articles/worklifebalance2.gif

Secondhand embarrassment

Secondhand embarrassment - the personal embarrassment that one feels on account of and for another who is making a fool of him/herself.

Example - "I had so much secondhand embarrassment for her today."

Image - http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ma3xbslpRG1qetk25o4_250.gif

Lopsided

Lopsided -  not equal; asymmetrical.

Example - "He has a lopsided smile."

Image - http://i.imgur.com/hFYTg4X.jpg

Comeuppance

Comeuppance - a punishment or fate that someone deserves.

Example - "He's got his comeuppance in the end."

Example - http://meetville.com/images/quotes/Quotation-Shawntelle-Madison-humor-dogs-Meetville-Quotes-189696.jpg

On tenterhooks

On tenterhooks - in a state of uncomfortable suspense.

Example - "The supporters were all waiting on tenterhooks."

Image - http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/05/01/article-1382542-02962BCE0000044D-824_634x374.jpg

Weighting

Weighting - allowance or adjustment made in order to take account of special circumstances or compensate for a distorting factor.

Example - "They are offering an annual salary of £32000 + £5000 London weighting"

Image - http://ecoopportunity.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/money-symbol.jpg

Pay rise vs. Increment

Pay rise - result of promotion or hard work.

vs.

Increment - automatic and based on the length of time with the company.

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qsPzSLhf0VdoY4tf1jVLxbLTZTj1DUEX8xpSxQIPG7ELJ1DiO7caDAuAke8X8d-J4ufSngoHWvxf7kN-BwkgiQ8j4QevVjxXVJcj84paWp9OHSm2-fyw04_BCqUqAiO4kH1eVtnqqq8/s1600/Increment.jpg

Jarring

Jarring - to have a harshly unpleasant or perturbing effect on one's nerves.

Example - "The final chord of that song is too jarring for me"

Image - http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480x270/p01l85h0.jpg

Commensurate

Commensurate - intended to be suitable for the quality, status, or value of someone or something.

Example - "The pay increase will commensurate with job performance."

Image - http://www.artizans.com/images/previews/WIL534.pvw.jpg

Commendable

Commendable - deserving praise or admiration.

Example - "Your commitment to the cause is highly commendable."

Image - http://www.omsa.org/photopost/data/851/medium/Department_of_Justice_-_Federal_Bureau_of_Prisons_-_Commendable_Service_Medal.JPG

Self-contained

Self-contained - having its own kitchen and bathroom, and typically its own private entrance.

Example - "These are all self-contained flats."

Image - http://www.ozstaysapartment.com.au/images/2-bedroom-superior-apartment.gifhttp://www.ozstaysapartment.com.au/images/2-bedroom-superior-apartment.gif

Flighty

Flighty - changing your opinion or behaviour often, and not serious or reliable.

Image- http://womanredefined.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/flighty.jpg

To be caught short

To be caught short - to suddenly and unexpectedly need to go to the toilet, especially when it is not convenient for you to do so.

Image - http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=12054446

To belch

To belch - to burp.

Image - http://theetiquettespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Belch-Burp-Etiquette1-300x210.jpg

Cliquish

Cliquish - about a person who has tendency to set a group.

Image - http://blogs.mydevstaging.com/blogs/high-chair-times/files/2012/03/meanmoms-337x250.jpg

Clique - a group of people who interact with each other more regularly and intensely than others in the same setting.

Peckish

Peckish - slightly hungry.

Image - https://psychologies.co.uk/sites/default/files/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hunger.jpg

To leave someone in a lurch

To leave someone in a lurch - to abandon someone in a difficult position without help.

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors20/tmb/dana-diprima-quote-we-didnt-want-to-look-opportunistic-or-leave-them.jpg

To dawdle

To dawdle - to go somewhere, or to do something, so slowly that people become annoyed with you.

Image - http://www.copyediting.com/sites/default/files/04_3%20Error%20DanglingModifiers%20teaser.jpg?1325708935

Cop-out

Cop-out - refers to taking the easy way out of a sticky situation.

Image - http://quotes.lifehack.org/media/quotes/quote-Bear-Bryant-never-quit-it-is-the-easiest-cop-out-119613_1.png

Staggering

Staggering - extremely surprising.

Example - "There was a staggering 60% increase."

Image - http://www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.com/.a/6a00d83451ee9f69e2017744a4a0e1970d-pi

To straddle

To straddle - to be on both sides of something.

Example - "CERN is in a building complex that straddles the Swiss and French border."

Image - http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z6ROYWSC-2s/TEyhFVml70I/AAAAAAAAHak/TfKh4K2T0iQ/s1600/20100718005+International+Peace+Garden+Straddle+border.jpg

Shambles

Shambles - something that is very badly organized and that does not operate effectively.

Example - "Government corruption has left economy in a shambles."

Image - http://memecrunch.com/meme/HE2T/my-life-is-in-shambles/image.png?w=500&c=1

Shrewd

Shrewd - able to judge people and situations very well and to make good decisions.

Image - http://www.wordbypicture.com/thumbs/shrewd-thumb.jpg

Uncanny

Uncanny - strange and mysterious.

Example - "He predicted the winners of the competition with uncanny accuracy."

Example - http://meetville.com/images/quotes/Quotation-Daniel-Pinkwater-direction-humor-sense-Meetville-Quotes-137894.jpg

Lovelorn

Lovelorn - sad because of problems with love, especially when you love someone who does not love you.

Image - https://d1466nnw0ex81e.cloudfront.net/n_iv/600/1033911.jpg

Beacon

Beacon - someone or something that encourages people and gives them a good example to follow.

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNYkoBolLaPnBVrDSn5gi-87jHnmujshIBWkvw9Ry9BSaAyAvj9rPH2EqTWYT8i0lIQOqvQNRhcTciFsn1spcYNAzdLJuI2U2eNc_zVSmDGaqjHpw5FqPh0QjI6Lj4pbaBTmYtFL-fQ/s1600/beacon.jpg

Trade-off

Trade-off- the fact that you can only have one of two things

Example - "The trade-off between efficiency and quality."

Image - http://arnoldin.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/food-tradeoff.jpg

To grope

To grope - to touch someone sexually in a rough way, especially someone who does not want to be touched.

Image - http://metrouk2.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/article-1298849815297-0d60c7e2000005dc-574061_636x469.jpg

Leeway

Leeway - the amount of freedom someone has to make their own decisions or to take action.

Image - http://www.business.com.au/images/logo/normal/6/f/e/e/94190_1332679834_leeway.jpg

Gullible

Gullible - a gullible person is easy to trick because they trust and believe people too easily.

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_z28qGvSVLuqnB2AVsHvAjrTmWixyMqbidpGaLZw8YzhNmEl8iBiPaR0l56Eu0shHnrioI2tdGvJSuVgjXwuD3ilc7WDKwiRjMKDitjNM91y8-DL_0iX0a0u2u3L-bjDEKmcahiYG24/s1600/gullibility+1+dollar+Cypriot.jpg

Poignant

Poignant - evoking a keen sense of sadness or regret.

Example - "A poignant reminder of the passing of time."

Image - http://www.notempire.com/images/uploads/peace_for_dogs_notcot.jpg

To squint

To squint - to close your eyes slightly and try to see something, either because of a bright light or because your eyes don't work well.

Image - https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/7169361664/hB31107C0/

Nitty gritty

Nitty-gritty - the most basic aspects of a situation that must be dealt with, even if they are unpleasant.

Image - http://rabbitholereality.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/nitty_2.jpg

Mumbo-jumbo - ideas or beliefs that you think are nonsense.

Pent up

Pent up -pent up emotions are strong feelings that you do not express so that they gradually become more difficult to control.

Image - http://creativeconflicts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Fotolia_5891258_M.jpg

To eschew

To eschew - deliberately avoid using, abstain from.

Example - He appealed to the crowd to eschew violence."

Image - http://boylenetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/eschew.jpg

Ineffable

Ineffable - too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.

Image - http://susatalan.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/121-ABRAHAM-JOSHUA-HESCHEL-INEFFABLE.png

Long shot

Long shot - an attempt or guess that is not likely to be successful but that is worth trying.

Example - "It is a long shot, but I will ask her."

Image - http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/10/03/Opinion/~/media/F34F511DD5BB4173945F9F2C6A033930.ashx

Pansy

Pansy - an insulting word for a man who is weak or easily afraid.

Image - http://www.island-of-freedom.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/scared-agent.jpg

Think on your feet

Think on your feet - to make a quick decision on give an answer quickly.

Image - https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5059/5506963440_1567e95ce8_z.jpg

Hoopla

Hoopla - excitement that is not necessary about things that are not important.

Image - http://www.thecontentagency.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/hoopla-logo21.bmp

To dawn on

To dawn on - to realize something for the first time.

Example - "It was several months before the truth finally dawned on me."

Image - http://hellaemo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/saturdayNightScrabble.png

To fall off the turnip truck

To fall off the turnip truck - to be uninformed and naive.

Image - http://community.ebay.com/t5/image/serverpage/image-id/167322i1E94629D37345FDC/image-size/original?v=mpbl-1&px=-1

Smug

Smug - too satisfied with your abilities or achievements.

Image -http://uniconoclast.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/smug.png

Come-hither

Come-hither - intended to attract someone sexually.

Image - https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/6586641664/h3414B406/

Ballbuster

Ballbuster - a demanding woman who destroys men's confidence.

Image - http://quirky-bird.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/ballbuster1.jpg

Jab

Jab - to push something with a sudden straight movement, usually with your finger, your elbow, or a narrow object.

Example- "That man jabbed me with his umbrella!"

Image - http://www.sthelensccg.nhs.uk/Library/your_health/Flu%20Safe%20Generic%20Get%20the%20jab.JPG

Pointer

Pointer - a piece of advice or information.

Example - "Can you give me a few pointers on how to improve my writing?"

Image - http://www.ayahjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/advice.jpg

Lore

Lore - traditional knowledge about nature and their culture that people get from their parents and from older people, not from books.

Image - http://concerttuning.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/storytelling.gif