Vocabulary with sentences

accommodation
A room to stay in or other place to stay; the act of accommodation

When I go on business trips, the accommodations my company pays for are usually quite
bad.
affluent
Wealthy; having a large amount of money

Only the most affluent individuals can afford a Lamborghini.

ajar
Slightly open or almost closed: said of a door.

found the door ajar, and I stood a moment gazing at the hateful man who claimed a right
to rule me, body and soul. - Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
appropriate
Suitable; befitting; proper.

Boardshorts are not appropriate attire for the office.

arouse
To excite into action; stir or put in motion or exertion; awaken: as, to arouse attention; to
arouse one from sleep; to arouse dormant faculties.

They would send agents and emissaries about the kingdom to arouse, and encourage,
and assemble such Saxon forces as were yet to be found. - King Alfred of England
augment
To add to; increase

I teach English in the evenings to augment my family's income.

avarice
Excessive desire for wealth; extreme greed

Corruption is a product of avarice and thirst for power.

barricade
Something that serves as an obstacle; a barrier

The police set up a barricade to keep voters away from the polling stations.
bewilder
To confuse or befuddle

I am absolutely bewildered by the new tax forms. I have no idea how to fill them out.
bitter
Having or being a taste that is sharp, acrid, and unpleasant.

The coffee was too bitter for Max. He had to add a lot of sugar.
anecdote
(noun) a short, interesting story
At the party Charles told some humorous anecdotes about his days in the military.
avert
(verb) turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object; to ward off, or prevent,
the occurrence or effects of
We did everything we could to avert the disaster, but it was not enough.
candid
(adjective) straightforward, open and sincere, honest
I had a very candid discussion with Max about his drinking problem.
dialogue
(noun) conversation between 2 or more people.
The action in the movie was very exciting, but the dialogue was incredibly bad.
drastic
(adjective) extreme, severe
The doctor had to take drastic measures to save the patient's life
erratic
(adjective) irregular, unsteady, random; prone to unexpected changes
The man's erratic behavior made everybody on the flight nervous.
fortify
(verb)strengthen, reinforce
The government intended to fortify the levees surrounding New Orleans.
isolate
(verb) set apart or cut off from others, separate
The hospital isolated the patients with bird flu to help prevent an outbreak.
illuminate
(verb) shine light on something, light up something
The new street lights were not powerful enough to illuminate the street sufficiently.
urban
(adjective) related to or located in the city
People from urban areas have very different political views from people in rural areas.
arrogant
(adjective) showing too much self-importance or self-worth; overbearing pride
Many political and business leaders are very arrogant.
aspire
(verb) to hope or dream; especially to hope or work towards a profession or
occupation
Pinocchio aspired to become a real boy.
compel
(verb) force, constrain or coerce; sway
The soldiers were compelled to fight in the war.
concise
(adjective) short, brief, not verbose; clear and succinct
Please write a concise essay on the meaning of life.
illusion
(noun) a false impression, something that seems to be something that it is not
The magician seems to saw his assistant in half, but it is just an illusion.
impose
(verb) establish or apply by authority; force something on someone; selfishly bother
 The government imposes taxes on the poor to pay for social programs for the
rich.
lenient
(adjective)easygoing, lax, tolerant of deviation, permissive, not strict
The teacher accused Bobby's parents of being too lenient with Bobby.
menace
(noun) a possible threat or danger
Leaders with too much power can become a menace to the world.
novice
(noun) a person new to an activity, a beginner
You are pretty good for a novice.
overt
(adjective) open and observable; not secret or concealed
The politician's disregard for the law was quite overt.
abet
To approve, encourage, and support (an action or a plan of action); urge and help on.

Max is in prison for aiding and abetting Mary with her bank robbery.
accumulate
To mount up; increase.

Debts can easily and rapidly accumulate. Be careful with your credit cards.
agitate
To make someone nervous or troubled; to arouse concern.

The peaceful crowd became agitated when the police showed up in full riot gear.
alert
Vigilantly attentive.

The dog was very alert. He guarded his bone collection with great diligence.
alluring
attractive, seductive, inviting.

The salary was very alluring, but Max decided not to take the job.
ample
Plentiful; enough or more than enough.

I just went grocery shopping, so we should have ample food for the rest of the week.
baffle
To perplex or confuse.

I am baffled by the instructions on the tax forms.

bicker
To argue about unimportant matters.

Max and Mary bicker constantly.

blame
 responsibility for something bad

Politicians are quick to assign blame, but they refuse to accept it.
blend
To combine (varieties or grades) to obtain a mixture of a particular character, quality, or
consistency.

Max blends protein powder with apple juice.

audible
(adjective) able to be heard, hearable
The child spoke so softly her voice was barely audible.
coerce
(verb) compel by unethical means, force
Max was coerced into making a donation to the Senator's campaign fund.
morale
(noun) the state of spirit of a person or group
The soldier's morale is extremely low.
prevail
(verb) win; overcome; gain advantage
We may be losing now, but in the end we will prevail.
prudent
(adjective) careful and wise
It would not be very prudent to spend your entire paycheck on lottery tickets.
retort
(noun) a sharp reply, answer
Jack came back with a witty retort to the reporter's question.
scapegoat
(noun) someone to blame; someone to take the blame for others
Every office needs a scapegoat. In our office Max is the scapegoat. He's blamed for
everything.
sedate
(adjective) calm; composed
The crowd at the funeral was quiet and sedate.
superstition
(noun) An irrational belief which ignores the laws of nature.
Getting seven years of bad luck for breaking a mirror is a common superstition.
supplement
(verb) add to; provide a supplement to
Max got a second job to supplement his income.
apathy
Lack of interest or concern.

There is widespread apathy among the school staff.

dismal
Gloomy; drepressing; dreary.

When the weather is gloomy, I have a hard time getting motivated to do anything.
dismay
 To cause the sudden loss of courage; to cause the feeling of consternation and distress.

We were dismayed by the president's policy reversal.

emulation
The imitation or copying of someone.

endeavor
To try very hard to achieve something.

We hoped that the president would endeavor to help the people.

frugal
Thrifty; economical.

You don't have to have a lot of money to travel if you are frugal.
impair
To weaken; to affect negatively.

mercenary
A professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army.

The war was fought mostly by mercenaries.

naive
Lacking experience.

It was naive of me to think that the governor actually cared about the people living in his
state.
stringent
Strict; restrictive; rigid; severe.

Mary has been on a stringent diet for months.

adverse
Unfavorable; harmful.

Adverse weather conditions will not stop Max from going fishing.
advocate
A person who publicly supports something or someone.

Max is an advocate for animal rights.

destiny
A predetermined state; fate.

Max considered it his destiny to die poor and alone.

diminish
To make smaller or less or to cause to appear so.

Max laughed at Mary's award and tried to diminish the award's importance.

donor
One who contributes to a cause or fund.

The Red Cross sent a letter of gratitude to all of the donors.

exempt
Free from a duty or obligation.

Most churches are exempt from paying taxes.

query
To ask, inquire.

The police officer queried the drivers involved in the accident.

patron
A customer

Some of the patrons complained to the waiter about the quality of the food.

savor
To enjoy or appreciate the taste or smell of something.

Homer savored every bite of the chocolate donut.

vocation
Employment; occupation; avocation; calling; business; trade

It is important to choose a vocation that you enjoy.

adroit
Dexterous; deft.

In other words, we expect quite a lot from the "adroit" waiter from the point of view of
active knowledge gathering and skillful orchestration of movements based on the current
cognitive map -- representation of the world and management of the body. - Archive 2009-
05-01

bogus
Not true; fake.

The politician's allegations against the prime minister were completely bogus.

impede
To retard or obstruct the progress of. See Synonyms at hinder1.

Does the R behind my name impede you from having a true debate? - Think Progress »
Congressman: ‘I Fear…We Will Have Many More Muslims In The United States’

loathe
To hate, detest, revile.

Yeah you probably right, but the hypocrisy and deceit of the Republicans which
Americans loathe is simply unmatched! - CNN Poll: Americans think Sanford should resign

revere
To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.

In his current column at Politico, the oh-so-funny Mike Allen asks: Do reporters 'revere'
Senator Clinton? - Archive 2007-11-01

rudimentary
 Being in the earliest stages of development; incipient.

They were introduced in rudimentary fashion in Second Edition and became a full-
fledged system in Third Edition. - 4e PHB Readthrough – Chapter 5: Skills « Geek Related

skirmish
A minor or preliminary conflict or dispute: a skirmish over the rules before the debate
began.

Interesting use of the word skirmish while troops are fighting this is what's going on in
Washington as well. - CNN Transcript Feb 18, 2007

terse
Brief, concise, to the point.

Ms. Diallo's lawyers received what one of them called a "terse" letter Friday inviting her to
meet with prosecutors at 3 p.m. to discuss what will happen in court Tuesday. - Strauss-
Kahn Case May Be Dropped

trivial
Ordinary; commonplace.

Mr. Weinberg noted that the core inflation rate, which strips out volatile prices, is just 0.9
per cent on an annual basis, which he calls "trivial." - The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed

verify
To prove the truth of by presentation of evidence or testimony; substantiate.

First, the word "verify" more accurately reflects the requirements placed on end users of
endangered wood. -

adverse
Unfavorable; harmful.

Major Nidal Hasan lectured senior Army physicians about what he called adverse effects
if Muslim soldiers are sent to fight other Muslims. - CNN Transcript Nov 10, 2009

celebrate
To perform (a religious ceremony): celebrate Mass.

When I win the lottery, we are going to celebrate with a huge party.

coherent
Sticking together; cohering.

Second, it's marketing's assignment to turn that tune or differentiating idea into what we
call a coherent marketing direction. - Marketing 101

consecutive
Marked by logical sequence.

Richard Byrd, 40, will serve the term consecutive to a sentence in a Peoria County drug
case. - News from www.pantagraph.com

detain
Obsolete To retain or withhold (payment or property, for example).

Max was detained by the police for more than 3 hours at the airport.
disclose
To make known (something heretofore kept secret).

Failure to disclose is one of the first things they warn you about when you become a
senator; it comes right after they give you the key to the Senate elevator. - October 2006

disrobe
To remove the clothing or covering from.

The nurse asked the patient to disrobe and wait for the doctor in the exam room.

distort
To twist out of a proper or natural relation of parts; misshape.

Every word has a specific meaning that will be twisted to distort from the true menaing
and intent or to veil it in a shroud of uncertainty. - Obama adviser: Protesters wrong about
health-care reform

enforce
To give force to; reinforce: "enforces its plea with a description of the pains of hell” (
Albert C. Baugh).

The police are supposed to be here to enforce the law.

flout
Openly disregard.

The OED’s first attestation of flaunt to mean flout is in 1923, so apparently once the error
appeared, it took off like gangbusters. - Flout good taste; flaunt your excesses « Motivated
Grammar

hostile
Unfriendly; Antagonistic

"As soon as we see them start moving towards the east, then they have what we call
hostile intent, then we can target them," he said. - Gadhafi Stops Rebels in Battle for Oil Port

lethal
Capable of causing death.

A rattlesnake's venom is lethal.

lubricate
To apply a lubricant to.

To keep your bicycle going smoothly, you should lubricate all of the moving parts.

malign
To speak bad about someone.

Please do not malign Mary. She is a very good person.

meander
To follow a winding course; to wander.

Max arrived late to school everyday because instead of walking straight to school he’d
first meander through the park hunting insects for his collection.
prohibit
To forbid by authority: Smoking is prohibited in most theaters. See Synonyms at forbid.

What Prop K does prohibit is sex trafficking investigations that involve racial profiling.
- Proposition K is gaining momentum in San Francisco! You Can Help! « Bound, Not Gagged

provoke
To incite to anger or resentment.

Let them, as far as I am concerned, but it may short term provoke more counterreaction.
- The Anti-Wedge Document - The Panda's Thumb
recede
To move back or away from a limit, point, or mark: waited for the floodwaters to recede.

According to these proxies, the climatic evolution of East Africa over the past 150 years
(‘modern climate†™) is characterized by a drastic dislocation around 1880, when
lake levels dropped notably and glaciers started to recede from the latest maximum
extent. - Think Progress » Senate Committee Launches Taxpayer-Funded Misinformation Campaign
About Gore Movie

remove
To move from a place or position occupied: removed the cups from the table.

Me, not so much, but what I think is really cool about what you've described is how it puts
all the moral conflict at one remove from the people -- it's the * vampires* (from what you
describe) that are trying to figure out how to live morally as everything is collapsing
around them. - intertribal: who's a sexy chick? (damn, gurl!)

revere
To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.

In his current column at Politico, the oh-so-funny Mike Allen asks: Do reporters 'revere'
Senator Clinton? - Archive 2007-11-01

revoke
To take back by reversing; to cancel the validity of something.

The judge said that he would revoke my driver's license if I got another speeding ticket.

ridicule
To expose to ridicule; make fun of.

His ideas were ridiculed by his colleagues.

stamina
Endurance; ability to sustain physical or mental effort.

You must have incredible stamina to compete in the Tour de France.

subterfuge
A deceptive stratagem or device: "the paltry subterfuge of an anonymous signature” (
Robert Smith Surtees).

Regarding archives being deleted, it seems to me that a little subterfuge is required here,
if you think your blog/newspaper is going to be bought out by megacorp, burn a copy on
disc, say nothing, and take it home.
adroit
Dexterous; deft.

In other words, we expect quite a lot from the "adroit" waiter from the point of view of
active knowledge gathering and skillful orchestration of movements based on the current
cognitive map -- representation of the world and management of the body. - Archive 2009-
05-01

bogus
Not true; fake.

The politician's allegations against the prime minister were completely bogus.

impede
To retard or obstruct the progress of. See Synonyms at hinder1.

Does the R behind my name impede you from having a true debate? - Think Progress »
Congressman: ‘I Fear…We Will Have Many More Muslims In The United States’

loathe
To hate, detest, revile.

Yeah you probably right, but the hypocrisy and deceit of the Republicans which
Americans loathe is simply unmatched! - CNN Poll: Americans think Sanford should resign

revere
To regard with awe, deference, and devotion.

In his current column at Politico, the oh-so-funny Mike Allen asks: Do reporters 'revere'
Senator Clinton? - Archive 2007-11-01

rudimentary
Being in the earliest stages of development; incipient.

They were introduced in rudimentary fashion in Second Edition and became a full-
fledged system in Third Edition. - 4e PHB Readthrough – Chapter 5: Skills « Geek Related

skirmish
A minor or preliminary conflict or dispute: a skirmish over the rules before the debate
began.

Interesting use of the word skirmish while troops are fighting this is what's going on in
Washington as well. - CNN Transcript Feb 18, 2007

terse
Brief, concise, to the point.

Ms. Diallo's lawyers received what one of them called a "terse" letter Friday inviting her to
meet with prosecutors at 3 p.m. to discuss what will happen in court Tuesday. - Strauss-
Kahn Case May Be Dropped

trivial
Ordinary; commonplace.

Mr. Weinberg noted that the core inflation rate, which strips out volatile prices, is just 0.9
per cent on an annual basis, which he calls "trivial." - The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed

verify
 To prove the truth of by presentation of evidence or testimony; substantiate.

First, the word "verify" more accurately reflects the requirements placed on end users of
endangered wood. -

detect
To discern (something hidden or subtle): detected a note of sarcasm in the remark.

The thinly cut meat and its inconsequential roll have next to no flavor; the only taste we
can detect is that of the Belgian cheese. - Mussel Bar: Wiedmaier's latest is a letdown, bar none

disclose
To make known (something heretofore kept secret).

Failure to disclose is one of the first things they warn you about when you become a
senator; it comes right after they give you the key to the Senate elevator. - October 2006

dominate
To control, govern, or rule by superior authority or power: Successful leaders dominate
events rather than react to them.

As galling as it is to realize that the BRR and its registered authors and publishers will
derive income from millions of books they didn ` t write or publish, it is even more galling
that copyright maximalists will almost certain dominate the BRR governing board. - ‘Dead
Souls’ of Google settlement

emerge
To come into view; to come out.

Eventually the truth will emerge.

endeavor
To try very hard to achieve something.

We hoped that the president would endeavor to help the people.

imply
To strongly suggest something.

By the way - the numvber two rule is that ever4y poster will post the exact opposite of
what their name imply e.g. - msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines

provoke
To stir to action or feeling.

Today, another American legend, Mark Twain, celebrated for the power of his language
and his ability to delight and provoke, is also under attack. - Life Upon the Wicked Stage—
Freedom of Artistic Expression

revoke
To take back by reversing; to cancel the validity of something.

The judge said that he would revoke my driver's license if I got another speeding ticket.

speculate
To engage in the buying or selling of a commodity with an element of risk on the chance
of profit.
 Linking to the same Washington Post story, Crispin Sartwell, at his eyeofthestormblogs.
com, writes: "this, we may speculate, is the reason that many prisoners of the u.s. will
never be released: nothing they did before, but the secrets they learned in prison, the
details of their own torture, present a security risk. we will not only torment you, we will
detain/disappear you for having been tormented by us." - Balkinization

sustain
To continue, support or maintain something.

Even as he is in prison on false charges, Max has sustained his belief in the justice
system.

disparity
(noun) a state of inequality, a great difference
Every year economic disparities in the world grow larger and larger.

facilitate
(verb) to make easier
The teachers put some of their course materials on the Internet to facilitate resource
sharing.

fraudulent
(adjective) dishonest, deceptive
Richie Rich received his wealth through fraudulent means.

ludicrous
(adjective) laughable.
The politician's attempts to cover up his crimes were ludicrous.

opportunist
(noun) a person who pursues and exploits any kind of opportunity without being guided
by principles, plans or any ethical considerations
Most politicians are opportunists who will jump at any advantage without any ethical
considerations.

shirk
(verb) avoid, ignore or neglect responsibility
Many politicians' sole purpose is to shirk their duties and make as much money as
possible.

spite
(noun) a desire to hurt, annoy, vengeance
Shortly after Max and Mary broke up, Mary scratched Max's car out of spite.

disparity
(noun) a state of inequality, a great difference
Every year economic disparities in the world grow larger and larger.

facilitate
(verb) to make easier
The teachers put some of their course materials on the Internet to facilitate resource
sharing.

fraudulent
(adjective) dishonest, deceptive
Richie Rich received his wealth through fraudulent means.

ludicrous
 (adjective) laughable.
The politician's attempts to cover up his crimes were ludicrous.

opportunist
(noun) a person who pursues and exploits any kind of opportunity without being guided
by principles, plans or any ethical considerations
Most politicians are opportunists who will jump at any advantage without any ethical
considerations.

shirk
(verb) avoid, ignore or neglect responsibility
Many politicians' sole purpose is to shirk their duties and make as much money as
possible.

spite
(noun) a desire to hurt, annoy, vengeance
Shortly after Max and Mary broke up, Mary scratched Max's car out of spite.
discord
(noun) disagreement or conflict
There was a tremendous amount of discord among the PTA officers.

ostracize
(verb) to exclude from a group
As a child, Max was ostracized by the other kids in his school because he wore different
clothes.

pensive
(adjective) deep in thought or reflection.
Max must be in a very pensive mood today. He hasn't said anything all day.

placid
(adjective) tranquil, peaceful, calm
My dog has a very placid temperament. She does not get upset easily.

salient
(adjective) Most noticeable, important, prominent, or conspicuous
The most salient feature of Mary's appearance is her Purple hair.

tacit
(adjective) understood or implied but not specifically expressed.
When Max and Mary moved in together as roommates, they had a tacit agreement that
they would share expenses.

zeal
(noun) passion, or enthusiasm (usually in pursuit of a cause or objective)
Because of her zeal for chocolate, Mary got a job at the chocolate factory as a chocolate
taster.

cryptic
(adjective) mysterious, secret, or obscure in meaning
Mary's comments were so cryptic that I had no idea what she was saying.

dichotomy
(noun) a division into two groups or parts or two opposing viewpoints
There is a sharp dichotomy of opinion on Max's ability to lead the government.

disdain
(noun) contempt
 Max has nothing but disdain for people like Mary.

impugn
(verb) criticize; dispute the truth; call into question
The politician was very upset as she felt that her character had been impugned.

malice
(noun) the desire to hurt others
Max has a great amount of malice towards the government.

staunch
(adjective) strong, loyal and committed in attitude
Mary is one of Max's staunchest supporters.

vilify
verb) to write or speak badly or abusively about
Max was vilified in all of the newspapers.

anachronism
(noun) someone or something that belongs in another place in time
Everything seemed normal except for the anachronism of the man riding a horse down
the street. One country colonizing another country is an anachronism in today's global
environment.

antecedent
(noun) something that precedes another thing, especially the cause of the second thing
Pronouns usually refer to antecedents.

debacle
(noun) a terrible failure
By most accounts, the war in Iraq has been a tremendous debacle.

exonerate
(verb) to absolve from blame, to prove innocent
I am confident that I will be fully exonerated if I'm given a fair trial.

lucid
(adjective) clear, clear headed
I am the most lucid right after a cup of coffee. His style of writing was very clear and
lucid.

pernicious
(adjective) harmful, deadly
The current concentration of ownership of media has had a pernicious effect on
democracy in the US.

wily
(adjective) sly, clever, cunning (usually deceitfully).
Many politicians employ teams of wily advisors to help them skirt the law.

conundrum
(noun) a confusing problem or question
For some hot dog aficionados, why there are many different varieties of mustard but
relatively few varieties of ketchup is a conundrum to ponder.
exploit
(verb) to make use of, take advantage of (unfairly profit from)
 The policy of some corporations is to hire employees right out of school in order to exploit
their eagerness and enthusiasm.

gullible
(adjective) easily persuaded to believe something
Max is so gullible. He believed me when I told him that I was running for president of the
US.

impeccable
(adjective) perfect, flawless
Max is a person of impeccable character.

penchant
(noun) a strong habitual fondness for something
Max has a penchant for coffee and doughnuts.

plausible
(adjective) believable, possible
It doesn't seem plausible that your dog actually ate your homework.

scrutinize
(verb) to look over or inspect closely
When you sign the mortgage papers, be sure to scrutinize the fine print.

concoct
(verb) to make by combining different ingredients, create or devise
The story that Max concocted as an excuse for not doing his homework was
preposterous but entertaining.
credence
(noun) belief that or acceptance that something is true
I don't give much credence to Max's stories.
devise
(adjective) to plan or invent
John devised a plan for a sure victory.
disengage
(verb) to detach or separate from something
Many people are pushing for the country to disengage its military from foreign
lands.
rebuke
(verb) to express sstrong criticism or disapproval of (someone)
Mary rebuked her children for not cleaning their bedrooms.
sentiment
(noun) an opinion
I agree with your sentiment regarding global warming.
unilateral
(adjective) performed by a single person, group or country (an action or decision)
There is little support globally for a particular country taking unilateral action
against another country.
expedite
 (verb) to make something happen sooner (usually an action or process)
Max called the cable company to see if they could expedite the installation process.

flagrant
(adjective) outrageous or conspicuously offensive
Many politicians are in flagrant violation of the law. The basketball player committed a
flagrant foul.

frugal
(adjective) thrifty, economical
If I had been more frugal, I could have saved enough money to buy a new car.

gregarious
(adjective) sociable, outgoing
Max is a very gregarious person. He likes to be around people.

misanthrope
(noun) a person who dislikes people and avoids people
Mary is a misanthrope. She hates being around people.

pacifist
(noun) a person who does not believe in war or violence.
Max got out of serving in the military by claiming that he was a pacifist.

repudiate
(verb) to reject as false
Many of the staunchest supporters of neoconservatism have now repudiated
neoconservatism as a complete failure. They claim that neoconservatism is dead.

astute
(adjective) shrewd, or having the ability to accurately assess situations or people for
one's own advantage.
Max is a very astute businessman. He has a very keen mind for making business deals.

candor
(noun) the quality of openness and honesty in attitude and expression
In all candor, I think that Max is a complete nincompoop.

copious
(adjective) plentiful, abundant in supply
We drank copious amounts of coffee in order to stay awake during class.

effeminate
(adjective) feminine, unmanly
Because Max is so effeminate, he was often picked on in school. The other kids called
him a sissy.

finagle
(verb) to get something through manipulation or dishonest means
Max finagled his way into the sold out Britney Spears concert. I don't know how he did it
(or why).

prolific
(adjective) very productive
Noam Chomsky is a very prolific author. He's written many books and articles.

tangible
(adjective) touchable, perceptible by touch
 Max will probably escape punishment for his crimes because there is no tangible
evidence to make a case against him.
ad lib
(verb) to speak or perform without preparing previously, improvise
The teacher lost all of his teaching notes on the way to class and was forced to ad lib the
lesson.

animosity
(noun) strong hostility, hatred
For some reason, Max feels a lot of animosity toward Mary.

earnest
(adjective) serious and sincere
Max made an earnest attempt to study for the exam, but it was too difficult for him.

epitome
(noun) a perfect example
Some people feel that George Bush is the epitome of arrogance.

genre
(noun) a category or kind (usually of art, literature, or music)
Max's favorite film genres are action and comedy.

permeate
(verb) to spread throughout (usually odor)
The stench of the rotten food permeated the entire building.

taciturn
(adjective) reserved, saying little
Max seems to be unusually taciturn today. Something must be bothering him.

callous
(adjective) insensitive and unfeeling toward others
The teacher was particularly callous in her treatment of the children.

emulate
(verb) to imitate or model yourself after
Children often emulate adults that they look up to.

finite
(adjective) limited
In a world of finite resources, if some people have more, other people must have less.

laud
(verb) to praise
The school's principal lauded the teacher for her ability to discipline her class.

nocturnal
(adjective) active at night
Mountain lions are primarily nocturnal and do almost all of their hunting at night.

noxious
(adjective) harmful or unpleasant
Be careful applying pesticides. Their fumes are often quite noxious to humans.

recant
(verb) to take back what one has said; to say that one no longer holds a belief or opinion
Max recanted every bad thing he said about Mary.
agony
(noun) intense suffering and pain
Max cried in agony when he broke his leg.

allege
(verb) assert or claim wrongdoing by someone (typically without proof)
The teacher alleged that Max cheated on the exam.

caricature
(noun) a picture or description of a person or thing with comically exaggerated
characteristics
Max drew a caricature of his teacher.

disperse
(verb) cause to go in different directions
The crowd dispersed as soon as the concert was over.

incite
(verb) to stir up or encourage (violent or unlawful behavior)
Max incited the other students to rebel against the teacher.

polarize
(verb) to divide or cause to divide into two sharply contrasting groups
The issue polarized the public.
precipitate
(verb) to cause to happen suddenly or sooner than expected
Extremely high gas prices precipitated the demise of the SUV.

sanction
(noun) official authorization, approval or ratification of a law
Max received the official sanction of the Federal Darts Association to hold a tournament
in the school.
commemorate
(verb) to remember and show respect (in a ceremony)
Veterans' Day is a day to commemorate soldiers who have honorably served their
country.
devastate
(verb) to ruin or destroy
The city was devastated by the bombs.
disarmament
(noun) the reduction of military or weapons
The protestors called for a complete disarmament.
distraught
(adjective) very agitated and upset from mental conflict
Mary became distraught when she found out that her son was being sent into war.
embark
(verb) to start, begin
Max embarked on a career as a plumber.
envision
(verb) to imagine as a future possibility
Max never envisioned being a plumber.
excerpt
 (noun) an extract (from film, writing, music, or other type of work)
The excerpts of the story published in the newspaper were very interesting.
forsake
(verb) to abandon
The town was forsaken by its former inhabitants because the nearby volcano threatened
to erupt.
temperance
(noun) abstinence from drinking alcohol
Max has become an advocate of complete temperance.
vow
(verb) to solemnly promise
Max vowed to never drink another drop of alcohol again.

Idioms

add fuel to the fire

To inflame or worsen a bad situation.
Max was already upset. Your teasing him just added fuel to the fire.
add up
To make sense; to be consistent (usually negative)
John's excuse for not completing his homework just doesn't add up.
against the grain
Contrary to what is expected or preferred.
Mary has a difficult time getting along with others as she is inclined to go against the
grain in everything she does.
ahead of one's time
In advance of current ideas and trends.
Some people describe Albert Einstein was a physicist ahead of his time.
all ears
Listening intently; eager to hear something.
So, you have some new gossip about Mary. I'm all ears.
all fired up
Excited; highly enthusiastic
I?m really fired up about the party next week.
arm and a leg
A very high cost; a large amount of money.
Many people are complaining that gas costs an arm and a leg nowadays.
at the top of one's lungs
In an extremely loud voice.
Max called out to Mary at the top of his lungs, but she didn?t hear him.
ballpark figure
A rough estimate within acceptable bounds.
Two months after the fire, the construction company gave us a ballpark figure on how
much it would cost to rebuild our home.
bang for the buck
Value; efficiency; return on investment.
 I?m not sure which car to buy. I?m trying to figure out which gives the greatest bang for
the buck.
bark up the wrong tree
Pursue the wrong thing; to take the wrong approach.
Don?t ask me for a pay raise. You?re barking up the wrong tree. I have no authority to
give anybody a pay raise.
add up
To make sense; to be consistent (usually negative)
John's excuse for not completing his homework just doesn't add up.
bear in mind
Remember; consider; note.
Bear in mind that money is not the most important thing in life.
beat a dead horse
To continue or persist talking about a topic or issue beyond normal interest.
I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but could we go over the plan just once more?
beat around the bush
To talk about a topic too indirectly or cautiously; to take a long time getting to the main
point or idea.
Please stop beating around the bush and get to the point!
beats me
I don't know; this puzzles me.
Do you have any idea why Mary was upset? Beats me!
bend over backwards
To make a great effort; to go to great lengths.
Max bent over backwards to make sure that his boss was happy.
beside the point
Irrelevant, off the topic.
The color of the car is beside the point. What kind of gas mileage does it get?
between a rock and a hard place
Having the choice between two difficult or unacceptable options.
Max was between a rock and a hard place. He could fight in the war, which he didn?t
believe in, or go to prison.
bite one's tongue
To stop oneself from speaking out.
Max quit his job because he was tired of biting his tongue every time his boss announced
one of his stupid ideas.
A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M|N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

blow (something) out of proportion

To overreact or exaggerate something.
Let?s not blow the problem out of proportion. If we break it down, we?ll see that it is
really not that complicated.
buy it
To believe something.
Max told Mary that he was sorry, but she didn't buy it.
call it a day
To stop an activity for the day.
We?ve done enough work today. Let?s call it a day.
call it a night
To go to bed to sleep.
I?m tired. I?m going to have to call it a night.
call it even
To declare debts paid.
You save my life five years ago, and I saved your life just now. Let?s call it even.
call it quits
To conclude; to quit or stop an activity.
I think everyone is very tired right now; let?s call it quits for now. Let?s try again
tomorrow.
can of worms
A difficult problem which produces additional problems.
Max couldn?t tell Mary the truth. He knew it would open a can of worms.
carry on
To continue or proceed.
I?ll be gone for a couple weeks. I?m sure you can carry on without me.
catch on
To understand; to realize.
Max took a little extra time to catch on, but eventually he understood the situation.
change one's mind
To decide differently or have a different opinion than before.
I know I said that I wanted vanilla, but I changed my mind; I want chocolate.
cheat on
To be sexually unfaithful to.
John asked for a divorce when he found out that Mary was cheating on him.
close but no cigar
A narrowly missed attempt or guess.
Nice try. Close but no cigar. Guess again.
cold turkey
To stop an addiction all at once, not gradually.
Max quit smoking cigarettes cold turkey.
cross the line
To go too far; to violate accepted boundaries or rules.
Max really crossed the line when he ate Mary?s last donut.
cut (somebody) some slack
To be flexible or lenient with somebody.
Cut Max some slack. He didn?t mean to be rude. He just had a very difficult day.
cut to the chase
To get to the main point; to state something directly.
Let me cut to the chase. I quit. As of tomorrow, I no longer work here.
daily grind
The monotonous tasks of everyday work.
I?ve had enough of the daily grind. I hope I win the lottery soon.
dead end
A path or situation that leads nowhere or offers no prospects.
My job seems to be at a dead end.
deep down
Basically; in essence; at the core.
 Max?s boss seems to be a very evil person, but deep down he?s not that bad.
die down
To fade; to gradually come to an end.
The storm seems to be dying down. Maybe we?ll be able to play tennis tomorrow after
all.
do the trick
To work; to cause the desired results.
I need something to quench my thirst. This bottle of water should do the trick.
down and out
Without money and without prospects.
Max is pretty down and out. He has lost his job, car, and home.
down the drain
Wasted, lost.
Everything I spent on guitar lessons was just money down the drain. I can?t play a thing.
drag one's feet
To deliberately hold back or delay; to intentionally go or work slowly.
Whenever I ask for the information, they say they're working on it. I think they're just
dragging their feet.
draw a blank
To suddenly forget; to fail to remember a piece of information.
I know the answer to that question, but I'm drawing a blank.
drop out
To leave school or a social group; to withdraw from competition.
Man, I'm tired of school. I think I'll drop out and do a little traveling.
easy as pie
Very easily completed or accomplished.
That puzzle was as easy as pie.
easy come, easy go
Easily won and easily lost.
The government took half of my lottery winnings in taxes. Oh well, easy come, easy go.
easy on the eyes
Attractive; beautiful.
Mary is quite easy on the eyes.
eat like a bird
To eat very little.
How does Mary keep such a nice figure? I bet she eats like a bird.
eat like a pig
To eat noisily, with one's mouth open; to eat a lot.
Don?t invite Max to your dinner party; he eats like a pig.
elbow grease
hard work or physical effort.
The floor is very dirty. It will take some elbow grease to get it clean.
face the music
To confront the unpleasant consequences of one's actions.
The police are here to arrest Max. I guess it?s time for him to face the music.
face to face
In person; in the physical presence of somebody.
I?m tired of discussing this over the phone. Let?s meet and discuss it face to face.
fall on deaf ears
To be ignored or disregarded.
Every time Mary ask Max to do something, her requests fall on deaf ears.
fall through the cracks
To be missed or overlooked.
How did they overlook that million dollar account. Somehow it just fell through the cracks.
feel free
Be my guest; be uninhibited about doing something.
Please feel free to eat anything in the refrigerator.
few and far between
Rare and scarce; occurring infrequently.
People who actually like Max are few and far between.
fill someone's shoes
To do someone's job; to assume someone's role.
It will be very difficult to fill Max?s shoes when he retires.
filthy rich
Extremely wealthy.
Max married Mary because she was filthy rich. All he cared about was her money.
fit the bill
To be suitable; to meet requirements.
I am looking for a new pair of earphones. These should fit the bill just fine.
flunk out
To be kicked out of school for not meeting academic standards.
Max flunked out of college in less than a year.
for good
Permanently.
Once you quit the club, you are out for good. You can never come back.
for kicks
For pleasure or excitement; for fun
For kicks, Max liked to play jokes on his friends.
for the birds
Worthless; no good.
Homework is for the birds. I?m not sure why my teacher gives me so much homework.
full of it
Speaking nonsense; lying, exaggerating, or boasting.
Don?t listen to Miguel. He is full of it.
get a grip
To control your emotions; to regain your composure.
Tell Max to get a grip. He is totally overreacting.
get a handle on
To obtain a basic level of understanding or control.
After reading chapter four, I?m starting to get a handle on quantum physics.
get carried away
To overdo; to do to excess.
Max got carried away with the balloons for the party. There must have been over a
thousand.
get cracking
To get started; hurry up.
 Come on! Let?s get cracking. We need to finish this project by next week.
get even
To get revenge.
Mary was quite upset with Jane for stealing her boyfriend. She swore that she would get
even.
get hitched
To get married.
Mary and Max got hitched two years ago.
get on one's nerves
To annoy or irritate someone.
Max may be a nice guy, but sometimes he really gets on my nerves.
get on someone's case
To criticize, find fault, or lecture.
The boss is always getting on Max?s case for everything.
get one's act together
To become serious, organized.
If you want a pay raise, you are going to have to get your act together and do a better
job.
get one's feet wet
To gain new experience.
Max is just getting his feet wet. He is likely to make a few mistakes.
get one's foot in the door
To begin become established in an occupation or company.
You were very lucky to get your foot in the door at ABC Company.
get something straight
To understand correctly; to clarify.
Let?s get this straight. We?ll meet behind the back after work.
get the hang of
To become accustomed to; to learn how to do or use something.
When I moved to England, it took me a few days to get the hang of driving on the left side
of the road.
get the point
To understand the general or main idea.
I don?t think Max got the point. The point is that the important things in life have little to
do with money.
get to the bottom of
To find the underlying cause of a situation.
Max will get to the bottom of the problem sooner or later.
get up on the wrong side of bed
To feel irritable; to be in a grouchy mood for no particular reason.
Watch out for Max. I think he got up on the wrong side of the bed today.
give it a go
To try or attempt.
I?m not sure if I can do this, but I?ll give it a go.
give someone the cold shoulder
To ignore; to snub or reject someone
For some reason, Mary is giving me the cold shoulder today.
go all out
 To spare no expense or effort; to put forth all possible effort or resources.
For the last two miles of the race, Max went all out.
go downhill
To worsen or deteriorate.
The company was having a few minor problems, and then all of a sudden everything
went downhill fast.
go for it
To put maximum effort toward achieving a goal.
There is a job opening at ABC Company. Max is going for it.
go out on a limb
To take a risk; to put oneself in a vulnerable position.
Mary went out on a limb lending Max all of her money. I hope he repays her.
go places
To achieve progress or succeed.
With all of your talent, you are certain to go places.
gut feeling
An instinct or intuition.
I have a gut feeling that John and Jane are going to get married
hand it to
To give someone credit or praise; to congratulate.
You have to hand it to Mary for doing such a great job planning the party.
hands down
Unquestionably; without a doubt; without effort.
Max was hands down the best player on the team.
happy camper
A person who is content or satisfied.
Ever since Max started working from home, he has been a happy camper.
have a blast
Enjoy oneself thoroughly
We had a blast playing soccer on the beach last week.
have a bone to pick
To have a grievance or complaint.
I have a bone to pick with my teacher about my grades.
have a cow
To have a fit; to get visibly upset.
The boss had a cow when Max came back from lunch two minutes late.
have a screw loose
To be crazy; to be mentally unstable.
Max must have a screw loose to keep working for that same company after all of the
abuse he has taken.
have a word with
To talk, speak, or discuss with.
Max went to have a word with his boss about the working conditions in the factory.
have the blues
To feel depressed or sad.
Max has had the blues since his dog died two months ago.
hear (something) through the grapevine
To learn through rumor.
 I heard through the grapevine that Max is going to quit his job.
one's bark is worse than one's bite
The particular person seems more aggressive and mean than he really is.
Don't worry about the boss. His bark is worse than his bite.
hit a snag
To encounter an unexpected problem or obstacle.
The business won't open as soon as we had hoped. We seem to have hit a snag with
one of our suppliers.
hit it off
To immediately have a good relationship with someone.
Max and Mary really hit it off from the beginning.
hit the books
To study intensely.
We need to hit the books before the test next Friday.
hit the hay
To go to bed
It's getting late. It's time for me to hit the hay.
hit the nail on the head
To be precisely right or accurate.
You hit the nail on the head when you said that the problem was the water pump.
hit the roof
To explode in anger.
The boss hit the roof when he found out that we didn't meet our quota.
hit the sack
To go to bed
It's getting late. It's time for me to hit the sack.
hold one's horses
To wait; to be patient; to slow down.
Hold your horses. I'll be ready in a minute.
in a bind
To be in a difficult situation; to be in trouble.
I'm in a bind. Could you help me out?
in charge
In the position of responsibility of leading or overseeing.
Max was in charge of the store when the fire broke out.
in cold blood
In a ruthless and unfeeling manner.
Max was murdered in cold blood.
in hot water
In trouble with someone.
Max is in hot water with his wife for staying out so late.
in the doghouse
In trouble; in disfavor (usually a man in trouble with his wife).
Max is in the doghouse with his wife for forgetting her birthday.
in the nick of time
At the last possible moment.
Max turned in his application for the job just in the nick of time
in the same boat
In a similar situation or predicament.
I'd like to help you with money, but I'm in the same boat. I don't have any money either.
keep a lid on
To keep something secret
No one is supposed to know our plan. Please keep a lid on it.
keep an eye on
To watch intently.
Please keep an eye on my children for me. I need to go to the store.
keep it down
To be quiet; to not be noisy.
Please keep in down. I'm trying to study.
one's lips are sealed
To keep a secret; to not reveal a secret.
My lips are sealed. I won't tell anyone about it.
keep one's nose to the grindstone
To work hard or focus heavily on work
If you keep your nose to the grindstone, you will do very well.
kick back
To relax.
After work tonight, I'm going to go home and kick back.
kid around
To engage in playful joking or teasing.
Don't take Max seriously. He was just kidding around when he said that you were ugly.
knock it off
to stop doing something.
Would you two please knock it off? That really annoys me.
learn something by heart
To memorize.
It took Max a long time to learn that poem by heart.
leave a bad taste in one's mouth
To create a bad feeling about something.
Working for that company left a bad taste in my mouth.
let the cat out of the bag
To reveal a secret.
Max let the cat out of the bag and told us that Mary was pregnant.
lie through one's teeth
to make outrageous false statements.
Miguel is almost always lying through his teeth. I wouldn't believe anything he says.
like shooting fish in a barrel
Extremely easy.
Taking that test was like shooting fish in a barrel. It was so easy.
like taking candy from a baby
Very easy to achieve.
Selling insurance to that family will be like taking candy from a baby.
loose ends
Leftover items; unfinished business.
Before I go on vacation, there are a few loose ends I need to take care of.
lose one's head
To panic; To lose self-control.
Don't lose your head. The cops will never catch us.
lose one's marbles
To become crazy.
I think Max has lost his marbles. He keeps muttering the same phrase over and over.
lose one's mind
To become crazy or insane.
I can't believe Max wants to get a job with the ABC Company. Has he lost his mind?
make a living
To earn enough income to support oneself.
Max makes a living as a salesman.
make a mountain out of a molehill
To exaggerate the significance of a minor problem.
A little acne is not the end of the world. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.
make believe
To pretend.
In his spare time, Max likes to make believe that he is a dragon slayer.
make do
To survive or get by with what little is available.
We don't have a lot money, but we make do with what we have.
make ends meet
To have just enough money to cover expenses; to barely meet expenses from paycheck
to paycheck.
It is hard to make ends meet on a teacher's salary.
make sure
To recheck to be certain.
Make sure that you put your name on your test before you turn it in.
make up one's mind
To make a decision; to decide between different options.
I can't make up my mind whether to go to Argentina or Chile for vacation.
middle of nowhere
A place far from interesting sites and major population centers.
As I was driving across the country, my car broke down in the middle of nowhere.
mind one's own business
To concern yourself only your own interests and not interfere in the affairs of others.
Why does Max care about how much money I make? Tell him to mind his own business.
money doesn't grow on trees
Money is not easily obtained.
Turn off the lights when you leave the room. You know money doesn't grow on trees.
monkey around
To behave in a silly or playful way.
Stop monkeying around. Let's get to work.
nail (something) down
To precisely and firmly establish details of a plan.
We haven't nailed down an exact date for the wedding yet, but we're thinking sometime
in August.
nip something in the bud
 To stop something at an early stage.
If you feel like you are catching a cold, try to nip it in the bud so that it does not cause you
to miss work.
no spring chicken
Somebody who is not particularly young
My grandfather runs marathons, and he's no spring chicken.
no sweat
It's not particularly difficult.
I need my car for a date tonight. Can you fix it? No sweat. I'll have it fixed in no time.
not a chance
Absolutely not; not possible.
Do you think there will ever be any honest politicians? Not a chance.
get a word in edgeways
To contribute to a conversation with people who are very talkative.
When you are talking with Mary, she talks so much that you are lucky to get a word in
edgewise.
nothing to it
Easy; not difficult.
Upgrading your RAM is easy. There's really nothing to it.
nothing to sneeze at
Not bad; worthwhile.
Max's new painting is nothing to sneeze at.
nothing to write home about
Ordinary; not exceptional; not especially good.
That movie was entertaining but nothing to write home about.
odds and ends
Miscellaneous things.
In the attic there is a box full of odds and ends.
off one's rocker
To be crazy.
He's off his rocker if he thinks that I'm going to help him move again.
off the cuff
Without preparation; impromptu
At the awards ceremony his speech was completely off the cuff.
off the mark
Inaccurate, wrong.
The vice president's comments on the war are consistently off the mark.
off the top of one's head
Without great thought, investigation or any sort of preparation.
Off the top of my head, I can't think of anyone who is a better painter than Max.
on a roll
On a streak of continuous progress or success.
The team is on a roll. They've won five games in a row.
on edge
Anxious, tense, nervous or irritable
I've really been on edge lately. I think I've been drinking too much coffee.
on one's toes
Alert, prepared, ready, or attentive.
 In this job things happen so fast that you always have to be on you toes.
on the back burner
Not the main priority; inactive; on hold.
I've put that project on the back burner until I have a little more time.
on the blink
Broken, out of order, inoperative (electronic or mechanical devices).
The freezer in on blink again. Everything has thawed out or melted.
on the button
Exactly, precisely.
We're meeting at 11:00, on the button.
on the dot
Exactly, precisely.
The meeting starts at 11:00, on the button.
on the fence
To be undecided.
I am still on the fence about which job to take.
on the level
Honest, sincere and straightforward
I wouldn't trust Miguel. He may seem like he's on the level, but he's really not.
on the line
At risk; in danger.
I really need to do well on this project because my job is on the line.
out of line
Inappropriate, improper, wrong.
Max was really out of line when he asked the woman how much she weighed.
out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning; suddenly.
Out of the blue Max asked Mary for a divorce.
out of the question
Impossible; not worth even considering.
We have no money. A new car is out of the question at this point.
out of work
Unemployed.
I'm out of work at the moment.
pain in the neck
an annoyance or difficulty.
I wish Max would go away. He is such a pain in the neck.
paint the town red
To go on a partying spree; to go wild.
Max and his friends painted the town red this past weekend.
pay through the nose
To pay an excessive amount of money.
Real estate prices are very high. For even a small house you have to pay through the
nose.
piece of cake
Something that is easy or simple to do.
Last night's homework assignment was a piece of cake.
play it by ear
To improvise; to do things without a plan.
I'm not sure what we'll do this weekend. We'll just play it by ear.
play one's cards right
To make the right moves; to have a good strategy.
If I had played my cards right, I might have gotten that promotion.
off the cuff
Without preparation; impromptu
At the awards ceremony his speech was completely off the cuff.
point the finger
To accuse; to assign blame
I don't want to point the finger at anybody, but somebody forgot to lock the door, Jim.
pull somebody's leg
To tease someone; to deceive or fool someone
Don't listen to Miguel. He must have been pulling your leg.
pull teeth
To do something very difficult or unpleasant.
Mary says that getting Max to take out the garbage is like pulling teeth.
put a sock in it
To be quiet; to stop talking.
Max went on talking trash about everyone until someone finally told him to put a sock in
it.
put one's foot down
To take a firm stand; to insist, demand, or refuse.
Mary finally put her foot down and said that she wouldn't let anyone borrow money from
her again.
put one's mind to it
To apply oneself; to channel one's effort toward a particular goal.
If Max put his mind to it, he could achieve anything.
rain cats and dogs
To rain very heavily.
You better bring an umbrella. It's raining cats and dogs out there.
raise a stink
To complain loudly; to make a fuss.
Every time I go to a restaurant with Max, he has to raise a stink about something.
raise the bar
To raise standards or expectations.
It's time for the auto industry to finally raise the bar on fuel efficiency.
read between the lines
To detect a meaning that is not stated explicitly.
He is very cheerful, but if you read between the lines, you'll understand that things aren't
going too well.
right on the money
Exact; precise; exactly right.
Your prediction was right on the money.
ring a bell
To seem or sound familiar.
The name rings a bell, but I'm not sure if I know him.
rock bottom
The lowest possible level.
The government's credibility has hit rock bottom.
rock the boat
To go against the status quo; to follow principle rather than go along to get along.
The company's policies are unethical, but if you rock the boat, you'll get fired.
rub the wrong way
To irritate or annoy.
I know you say that Max is a nice guy, but something about him rubs me the wrong way.
scared to death
Extremely frightened
Max is scared to death of being alone with Mary.
scope out
To scout; to investigate; to check out.
We scoped out the perfect location for our beach party.
scratch the surface
To treat superficially; to barely begin.
Finished? We haven't even scratched the surface yet. There is a lot more to do.
see eye to eye
To agree; to have similar views; to get along.
Max and Mary rarely see eye to eye on anything.
see red
To become very angry; to be furious.
Max saw red when he found out that Mary went to Paris with John.
sell like hot cakes
To sell fast
Astronaut diapers are selling like hot cakes.
set straight
To correct with accurate information.
The presidential candidates seem to have their facts wrong. Someone needs to set them
straight.
shake a leg
To hurry; to get going.
Let's shake a leg! We need to finish this project today.
shoot the breeze
To talk or converse idly.
Do you want to have a cup of coffee and shoot the breeze for a while?
shrug off
To disregard; to minimize the importance of something.
Max shrugged off Mary's accusations and went on with his normal routine.
sit tight
To wait patiently.
Just sit tight; the hot dog vender will be by in a few minutes.
sitting pretty
To be in a good financial situation.
Once we get the insurance money, we'll be sitting pretty.
slip of the tongue
A mistake in speaking.
 For a politician, a simple slip of the tongue can be detrimental.
slip one's mind
To forget; to overlook.
I was supposed to do some homework last night, but it totally slipped my mind.
spill the beans
To reveal a secret.
We were going to surprise Max with a party, but somebody spilled the beans.
stand one's ground
To firmly maintain one's opinion or position.
Everyone in the room disagreed with Mary, but she stood her ground.
take a back seat
To become lower priority or less important; to let someone else take charge.
Mary reluctantly took a back seat when Mary took over the company.
take a breather
To take a short break; to pause and relax briefly.
I'm tired. Let's take a breather.
take a chance
To risk something.
Max doesn't like to take chances. He always plays it safe.
take a crack at
To attempt or try.
I'm not sure if I can do it, but I'll take a crack at it.
take a spill
To fall or trip: to experience a sudden drop.
Max took a spill when he was riding his bike. He banged his head.
take the heat
To endure the consequences, blame, anger, or scrutiny;
Mary took the heat for Max's mistake.
tall tale
A greatly exaggerated story.
Miguel is notorious for his tall tales about his military service. He was just a driver but
now claims to have been James Bond.
at the end of one's rope
At the limit of one's patience.
Mary is at the end of her rope with Max. She can't take his nagging any longer.
the pits
A miserable or unpleasant situation.
The people in the office are awful. Working with them everyday is the pits.
think twice
To reconsider something; to consider something carefully before proceeding.
Think twice before you get married.
through the roof
Suddenly and excessively high.
Housing prices have gone through the roof in Southern California.
tie the knot
To get married.
Max and Mary tied the knot more than ten years ago.
to each his own
Everyone is entitled to personal preferences.
I wouldn't paint my car that color, but to each his own.
tongue-tied
Unable to say anything.
Every time Max sees Jane, he gets tongue-tied, and just sits there and stares.
under one's breath
softly spoken; in a whisper
Under his breath, Max called Mary a fat cow.
under the gun
Under pressure to perform or meet a deadline.
Max was under the gun to complete the research before the end of the fiscal year.
under the weather
Not feeling well; ill.
I'm a bit under the weather today. I think I'll take the day off.
until one is blue in the face
For a hopelessly long time
You can lecture Max until you're blue in the face, but he's going to do it his way no matter
what.
up for grabs
available for anyone.
Now that Mary is working from home, her office is up for grabs.
up in the air
Undecided.
The exact date of the wedding is still up in the air at this point.
up to something
Scheming or devising.
Max is a little too quiet today. He must be up to something.
ups and downs
Good times and bad times.
We've had our ups and downs, but I'll always consider you my friend.
wake up and smell the coffee
To face reality; to stop deluding oneself; to become aware.
Wake up and smell the coffee! Unless you are extremely wealthy, the government
doesn't care what you think.
watch like a hawk
To observe very closely.
When we were taking the test, the teacher watched us like a hawk to make sure that we
weren't cheating.
water down, to water (something) down
To make weaker; to dilute.
The government has watered down the reports on global warming to make the problem
seem less severe.
cross that bridge when one comes to it
To not deal with a situation until one is actually in the situation.
I'm not sure what we'll do if he says no. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to
it.
wet behind the ears
Inexperienced.
 I don't think I want that young doctor performing heart surgery on me. He seems a little
wet behind the ears.
when all is said and done
In the end; ultimately.
When all is said and done, we may not have made a lot of money, but we had a lot of
fun.
whole shebang
The entire thing; everything.
In the divorce, Max lost his kids, dog, house, car, timeshare property, the whole shebang.
with flying colors
Exceptionally well.
Mary passed the board exam with flying colors.
wolf in sheep's clothing
A person who appears innocent but really isn't.
Jane seems sweet, but watch out. She's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
work one's butt off
To work very hard.
I've been working my butt off for years, but I have nothing to show for it.
zero in on something
To focus on; to direct attention to.
John zeroed in on the problem and immediately found a solution.