spell Idiom

break a spell

cause a spell to stop, not be under a spell I was captivated by her until she smoked. That broke the spell.

cast a spell

use charm or spiritual power to change people When Pavarotti sings, he casts a spell over his audience.

set a spell

sit down for awhile, visit a spell Hannah had to set a spell after doing the chores. She rested.

spell disaster

cause an accident, lead to a tragedy An error in the design of a car could spell disaster for the driver.

spell out

explain carefully, explain each word or step If I don't understand a question, I ask him to spell it out for me.

spell you off

do your job for you, allow you to rest When you get tired of shoveling, I'll spell you off for awhile.

visit a spell

visit for awhile, set a spell Well hello, Charlie. Come in and visit a spell.

spell trouble

Idiom(s): spell trouble

Theme: TROUBLE

to signify future trouble; to mean trouble. (Informal.)
• This letter that came today spells trouble.
• The sky looks angry and dark. That spells trouble.

spell sth out

Idiom(s): spell sth out

Theme: EXPLANATION

to give all the details of something.
• I want you to understand this completely, so I'm going to spell it out very carefully.
• The instruction book for my computer spells out everything very carefully.

Dry spell

If something or someone is having a dry spell, they aren't being as successful as they normally are.

Good spell

A spell can mean a fairly or relatively short period of time; you'll hear weather forecasts predict a dry spell. Sports commentators will say that a sportsperson is going through a good spell when they're performing consistently better than they normally do.

spell out|spell

v. 1. To say or read aloud the letters ot a word, one by one; spell. John could not understand the word the teacher was saying, so she spelled it out on the blackboard. 2. To read slowly, have trouble in understanding. The little boy spelled out the printed words. 3. informal To explain something in very simple words; explain very clearly. The class could not understand the problem, so the teacher spelled it out for them. Before the game the coach spelled out to the players what he wanted them to do.
Compare: WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.

spell trouble|spell|trouble

v. phr. To signify major difficulties ahead. The note we just received from the Chancellor seems to spell trouble.

under one's spell|spell|under

adv. phr. Unable to resist one's influence. From the first moment they saw each other, Peter was under Nancy's spell.

spell

spell
In addition to the idiom beginning with spell, also see cold snap; under someone's spell.

under someone's spell

under someone's spell
Fascinated or influenced by someone, as in I think he has our daughter under his spell. This idiom derives from the literal meaning of spell, “a word or formula that has magical power.” [Mid-1800s]

More Idioms/Phrases

under one's breath under one's feet under one's hat under one's nose under one's skin under pain of under par under someone's spell under someone's thumb under someone's wing under the gun under the hammer under the impression

English Vocalbulary

a sporting chance a spot of a spring in the step a spring in their step a springkling of a square deal a square meal a square peg in a round hole a square refusal a stand-by a step a step in the right direction a stiff price a stinging insued a stitch of work a stone's throw a stop to a storm brewing spell 反対