Advanced Vocabulary for English Language Learners

Sunday, December 18, 2016

To flame out

To flame out - to fail spectacularly and especially prematurely.

Example - "Even at the reception, some were predicting that the marriage would flame out before the fancy china ever got used"

Image - https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/378800000560313918/d77a8686052518a972533d3124229a88_400x400.png

Spiffing

Spiffing - excellent; splendid.

Example - "How spiffing you look!"

Image - https://sites.create-cdn.net/siteimages/33/5/5/335537/13/3/4/13344952/500x500.jpg?1473701124

To plead the fifth

To plead the fifth - to decline to give self-incriminating information.

Example - "- So, who do you like best? Jenny or Kim? - I will have to plead the fifth on that one"

Image - https://s3.amazonaws.com/lowres.cartoonstock.com/politics-law-lawyers-attorneys-judges-courts-rma0243_low.jpg

Sunday, September 25, 2016

The best of a bad bunch - the person or thing of a group that is not as bad as the others, although none of the group is good.

Example - "The picture isn't exactly what I would have chosen, but it was the best of a bad bunch"

Image - http://www.kscs.org.uk/sites/default/files/images/p16_images/Options.jpg

Sunday, September 18, 2016

To miss the boat

To miss the boat - to be too slow to take advantage of an opportunity.

Example - "I sent off my university application at the last minute and almost missed the boat"

Image - https://1040.staticserve.net/assets/blog/images/late-filing.jpg

To knock someone's socks off

To knock someone's socks off - to surprise someone thoroughly.

Example - "The exciting news just knocked my socks off"

Image - https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3f/42/22/3f42224dc2211091f177695d68d9e559.jpg

Uphill battle

Uphill battle - something very difficult because other people are causing problems for you.

Example - "Environmentalists face an uphill battle convincing people to use their cars less."

Image - http://i.nextmedia.com.au/Utils/ImageResizer.ashx?n=http%3A%2F%2Fi.nextmedia.com.au%2FNews%2Fuphill_challenge_boulder_shutterstock.jpg&w=480&c=0&s=1

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Put all eggs in one basket

Put all eggs in one basket - to make everything dependent on only one thing.

Example - "I advise you to diversify and not put all eggs in one basket"

Image - http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54e476b6e4b02a41587ac793/5500d1c1e4b073563bd4f55b/5500d1c2e4b073563bd4f664/1426117097698/bigstock-All-Eggs-In-One-Basket-Cartoon-75053410.jpg

Whole enchilada

Whole enchilada - everything; the entirety of something.

Example - "Richard wants the whole enchilada"

Image - http://www.jarofquotes.com/img/quotes/06487b6aa8b78190838c3593f3bf236c.jpg

Small potatoes

Small potatoes - something or someone insignificant

Example - "The contract is small potatoes, but it keeps us in business till we get into the real money"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors29/tmb/bob-blanchard-quote-this-is-no-small-potatoes-it-wont-be-pretty.jpg

Stoked

Stoked - excited or euphoric.

Example - "When they told me I was on the team, I was stoked!"

Image - http://img.picturequotes.com/2/347/346812/i-would-love-to-be-a-travel-writer-id-be-so-stoked-quote-1.jpg

Monday, August 29, 2016

Rotten apple

Rotten apple - a single bad person or thing.

Example - "There is always a rotten apple to spoil it for the rest of us"

Image - http://fictionwritersreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Tom_Toro_1.jpg

Bowl of cherries

Bowl of cherries - wonderful; very pleasant.

Example - "I got a promotion and got engaged in the span of a week. Life is just a bowl of cherries these days"

Image - http://www.lovethispic.com/uploaded_images/12454-Life-Isnt-A-Bowl-Of-Cherries.jpg

Big cheese

Big cheese - an important, successful or influential person.

Example - "Jacob thinks he's a big cheese now that he's been promoted to assistant manager"

Image - http://ih0.redbubble.net/image.133354496.4768/flat,800x800,070,f.u3.jpg

Milk of human kindness

Milk of human kindness - natural kindness and sympathy shown to others.

Example - "Mary is completely hard and selfish - she doesn't have the milk of human kindness in her"

Image - http://orig14.deviantart.net/bf5a/f/2010/285/1/3/milk_of_human_kindness_by_luckodedraw-d30npcp.jpg

To have bigger fish to fry

To have bigger fish to fry - to have other things to do; to have more important things to do.

Example - "I don't have time for your problem. I have bigger fish to fry"

Image - http://albert.tips/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/09.png

Monday, August 15, 2016

Mosey

Mosey - a leisure walk or drive.

Example - "I will just have a mosey around"

Image - https://www.firstgiving.com/imaging/stock/2c4c4a81-2acd-4378-9fb2-4a736047e1b2.jpg

Gall

Gall - rudeness and the quality of being unable to understand that your behaviour or what you say is not acceptable to other people.

Example - "Considering that he never even bothers to visit my parents, I'm amazed that Tim has the gall to call them for money"

Image - http://img.picturequotes.com/2/557/556710/hes-sure-got-a-lotta-gall-to-be-so-useless-and-all-quote-1.jpg

Touch-and-go

Touch-and-go - dangerous and uncertain in nature or outcome.

Example - "He just had major surgery followed by touch-and-go recovery"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzvo1veGsKZSvfIi7x8nwRrHZZGqrrsJiZkMt1VOahXpDDrXlFp6KA67800sGsxl0_G_pJqFuD5cM8qd9aknYLG5XL-jmqZneBbAaCsVFsjQ-Nzp637jrxJTOB_cU1FXQK13i7qttuT4/s1600/TOUCH+AND+GO-GO-GO+TITLE+CARD.png

Knee-jerk reaction

Knee-jerk reaction - a quick reaction that does not allow you time to consider something carefully.

Image - https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0337/8029/files/Knee_Jerk_large.png?886

To take a spill

To take a spill - to have a fall, or to tip over.

Example - "Ann tripped on the curb and took a nasty spill"

Image - http://cdn.playbuzz.com/cdn/3ee42b64-2a24-45ec-9024-18074a5e7f53/a58a3d50-9129-4add-8ed5-812230091b6e.jpg

To placate

To placate - to make someone less angry or hostile.

Example - "They attempted to placate the students with promises"

Image - http://www.weaponsofmathdestruction.com/comics/128-placate-print.jpg

Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Ignominious

Ignominious - humiliating.

Example - I think he deserved better than such ignominious end.

Image - http://s3.amazonaws.com/brainyflix/photos/10917/medium.jpg

Saturday, July 23, 2016

To brandish

To brandish - to shake or wave as a weapon.

Example - "A man leaped out brandishing a knife"

Image - https://i.ytimg.com/vi/b-mEqa0y1NM/hqdefault.jpg

Misgiving

Misgiving - a feeling of doubt, distrust or apprehension.

Example - "We have misgivings about the way the campaign is being run"

Image - http://images.digopaul.com/wp-content/uploads/related_images/2015/09/09/misgiving_2.jpg

Squat

Squat - anything; nothing.

Example - "She didn't know squat about what her boyfriend thought"

Image - http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/uncyclopedia/images/1/1d/Absolutely_nothing.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20050420174213

To float

To float - to suggest a plan or an idea to be considered.

Example - "Laura has floated the idea that we should think about expanding into Europe next year"

Image - http://cdemployees.com/assets/MySuggestion.jpg

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Steadfast

Steadfast - dependable; reliable.

Example - "He's a steadfast friend"

Image - http://quotes.lifehack.org/media/quotes/quote-Fiona-Apple-i-have-a-very-steadfast-tendency-to-60930.png

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Rude awakening

Rude awakening - severe shock when you discover the truth of a situation.

Example - "They all think she has plenty of money but they are due to a rude awakening"

Image - https://media2.popsugar-assets.com/files/2013/11/07/831/n/1922398/9d62fd4fa48c4072_25.gif

To line up

To line up - to arrange or set up.

Example - "We need to line up a band for the wedding"

Image - https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1848258079/SETUP_logo_black_sml.jpg

Talking point

Talking point - a topic that invites discussion or argument; a subject of discussion.

Example - "We have several talking points we need to cover"

Image - http://www.ejscafe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/talking_points.png

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Burly

Burly - strong and heavily built.

Example - "I saw a burly figure approaching"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD5XeVSaSYjxC8497lHe_71a3oDAznoynggQMIpmOpecTUiKDqII4Nwh943_0j1cxDe5ZxP2xT9F900hyphenhyphennIDT4588bjlQMUXa1D2W52NYuoVOU44HDMWE2t98O5CEdT2cupfgC2rFgw/s1600/Burly+Model+Sheet+FINALFINAL.png

Nimble

Nimble - quick and light in movement.

Example - "Her mind was so nimble and she was so quick to learn"

Image - http://worldofdtcmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Nimble.jpg

In the bag

In the bag - assured of success; virtually accomplished or won.

Example - "The coach thought the trophy was in the bag"

Image - http://lovefundforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ItsInTheBag_Logo.png

To flail

To flail - to struggle uselessly.

Example - "I was flailing about in the water"

Image - https://carecoordinated.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/cfo-blog-post-6.jpg

Friday, July 15, 2016

Minnow

Minnow - a small or insignificant person or organization.

Image - http://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/128/590x/minnow-fish-hands-644029.jpg

Dodgem

Dodgem - bumper car.

Image - http://www.dodgemhire.net/assets/images/autogen/a_DodgemCar_cutout07_1.gif

Nous

Nous - common sense; practical intelligence.

Example - "If he had any news at all, he would sell the film rights"

Image - http://scottberkun.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/common-sense-1024x682.jpg

To ride on someone's coattails

To ride on someone's coattails - to have one's success dependent on that of someone else.

Example - "I don't think she would get promoted without riding her boss's coattails"

Image - http://imgc-cn.artprintimages.com/images/P-473-488-90/60/6067/JSZD100Z/posters/peter-c-vey-my-new-business-model-is-to-ride-on-the-coattails-of-somebody-else-s-new-new-yorker-cartoon.jpg

On the cusp of

On the cusp of - at the point in time that marks the beginning of something.

Example - "An actor on the cusp of becoming a star"

Image - http://www.quotehd.com/imagequotes/authors34/paul-slattery-quote-we-are-on-the-cusp-of-having-to-make-a-decision.jpg

Hobson's choice

Hobson's choice - a choice of taking what is available or nothing at all.

Example - "He jokingly referred to dinner as a Hobson's choice between soup and salad or salad and soup"

Image - https://davidrohlfingblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/take-it-or-leave-it1.jpg

Thursday, July 14, 2016

To bean

To bean - to hit someone on the head

Example - "She picked up a rock and beamed him on the forehead"

Image - http://maccollaborations.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mac_newsletter_winter_2012_brain_injury_soccer.jpg

Gimme

Gimme - something very easy to perform or obtain.

Example - "That was a gimme!"

Image - https://www.dentalelite.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/easy.jpg

Supercilious

Supercilious - behaving as if you were better than other people.

Example - The supercilious art dealer rolled her eyes when we asked if she had anything for under $1,000.

Image - https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/t/haughty-young-caucasian-man-s-portrait-29406908.jpg

To hang someone out to dry

To hang someone out to dry - to leave someone in a difficult or vulnerable situation.

Example - "After losing the election, the party is going to hang him out to dry"

Image - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgLNyCVMlA6bS6G3L4gIFykjQ9Ao3iMIjhsfq9KsYApzvbGjUyFykHYDNGddceQAF5qDKl3mpBRdkNpPR5RxByj08r9-MCvU50ai0vs4ILj3ycHMUk3M3YCxOcxd6yEMPUMtrt3gwWoTO/s1600/Hang+out+to+dry.jpg

To hit a wall

To hit a wall - to reach a situation where you cannot make any more progress.

Example - "We're just about to hit the wall in terms of what we can do to balance the budget"

Image - http://i.imgur.com/aJNHjPq.png

To be in the limelight

To be in the limelight - to receive attention and interest from the public.

Example - "He's been in the limelight recently, following the publication of a controversial topic"