Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: close to home (used idiomatically: yes)
And yet he seems unlikely to bring them much comfort . Pravda , the official Soviet newspaper , has positioned itself unambiguously on the side of the East German government 's authority . And if the Soviet leader kept silent in Peking in May , as hundreds of thousands shouted his name during the demonstrations at Tiananmen , he seems the more likely to say nothing which might inflame passions so comparatively close to home . Winfried Wolk , leader of the East German Christian Democrat party , an ally of the government but a critic of the anniversary celebration , warned against confrontation . Do not go out on the streets , he begged his compatriots — instead , put a lighted candle in the window for reform .
Idiom: below the belt (used idiomatically: yes)
Whenever Mars is in Scorpio , megalomaniacs go into a hyperactive frenzy . This month , the males of planet Earth will divide into two groups : those who are making a bid for supreme power , and those who are holding their ground against such bids . Whichever camp you are in , the same celestial advice will apply — hit below the belt . SCORPIO ( Oct 24 — Nov 22 ) Scorpios love nothing more than a chance to break a social taboo .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: yes)
A typical set up costs less than £ 1000 and MK aims to price itself into a new market between simple time switches and expensive custom - built computer - based energy management systems . MK 's controller can communicate with 32 peripheral devices ( either transmitters or receivers ) , and it can remember UP to 160 things it has to do every day , week or month . There are elaborate provisions for switching groups of appliances or lights on and off together . The Response controller keeps an eye on its peripherals by constantly ‘ polling’ them in sequence . Other manufacturers have voiced the thought that these constant transmissions could swamp the mains .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ What , now , in November?’ He pushed the invitation over to her : she regarded it with mock distaste . ‘ It 's got pictures of little cocktail glasses and tinsel spots on,’ she observed . ‘ I could see that for myself,’ said Charles . ‘ I refuse to invite them to dinner,’ she said .
Idiom: up against it (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ She was Lying round that,’ said the watchman . ‘ Head that side , feet this.’ ‘ The body probably caught up against it on its way downstream,’ said Owen . ‘ Well , yes,’ said Mahmoud . ‘ Possibly .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
His cloak hung down like a curtain , and I could see streetlamps through the bullet holes in it . There was more gunfire , and containers of sugar and ketchup jumped to pieces on tabletops . The linoleum ruptured , and something heavy landed on the back of my head . Darkness wrapped around me like an anaconda . I gave in to it .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
She wanted to postpone any thoughts of coming back down to reality for as long as possible . She remembered St Tropez as being vibrant . Now , with her bag slung over her shoulder and her sunglasses propped firmly on her nose , it struck her as simply crowded . ' I ca n't imagine why you wanted to come here , ' she said , staring at the milling crowds of people with distaste . Piers shrugged and looked at her .
Idiom: go without saying (used idiomatically: yes)
In one act at the exhibition hangar gave NAM ‘ back’ its workshop , enabling the restoration of Anson C.19 VL348 to come on apace ; it allowed several of their exhibits the luxury of a controlled environment ; gave the Museum an ‘ all weather’visitor capability and made them a suitable location for the RAF Museum to loan them their Airspeed Oxford and North American Harvard — see the August issue . All of this most certainly constituted the Excellence the award was looking to stimulate . That the hanger showed Innovation goes without saying — enter the Oxford and the Harvard again . The ability to display airframes and artifacts within such a building is only just beginning to be capitalised upon by NAM . As a largely amateur run operation , a building of such proportions instantly qualifies for the requirement Determination .
Idiom: on the cards (used idiomatically: yes)
2 . RBGE Conifer Project . Chris Page wants to capture Alan Mitchell 's tree measurement data , currently held in hand - written form on cards in the Library . Need sophisticated OCR program , which could be costly . Second phase would be to capture Chris ' data held on about 20,000 cards , and integrate this with Aljos Farjon 's data already held on disk .
Idiom: rare bird (used idiomatically: no)
It was also known that the Kharg-5 had twice been damaged by Iraqi missiles in the Gulf during the Iran - Iraq war . Madeiran and New York harbour oil slicks The Portuguese government succeeded in enlisting the aid of the European Communities after an 18-km oil slick washed up on the beaches of Porto Santo island in the ( Portuguese ) Madeiras on Jan. 16 , causing the deaths of large numbers of turtles , seagulls and rare birds . The source of the slick was unknown , although it was not far from the site of a 25,000-tonne oil spill from a Spanish supertanker , Aragón , on Jan. 2 . The Exxon corporation admitted on Jan. 3 that 500,000 gallons of heating oil had been spilled into New York harbour after a pipeline was hit by an Exxon - owned vessel on Jan. 1 .
Idiom: point the finger (used idiomatically: yes)
Mismanagement And who was to blame for the high interest rates ? In 1979 , the Tory party knew where to point the finger : ‘ Mortgage rates have risen steeply because of the [ Labour]Government 's financial mismanagement.’ When the Tories allowed rates to fall in late 1990 , the damage had been done . And because it takes several months , and often a year or more , before a lender seeks to repossess , the 1991 repossession figures reflect the interest rates charged in 1990 .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: no)
Russian bands were only second - hand copies of American or English groups after all . Originality was only to be found in the words of songs , but these words were not understandable to western audiences . In 1989 , at Glasgow University , the organisers of a symposium on Soviet Rock could n't find a venue for more than one concert . Heroes of sports arenas in their own country now found themselves working in small halls to audiences of 100–150 people . The disappointment was huge on both sides .
Idiom: down the drain (used idiomatically: no)
It 's not going to sink into the concrete , is it ? Unless they 're on concrete it 's very shallow , and and evaporation is possible , when your talking about floods on land , yes , it 's going to seep into the earth , it 's gon na run down run down the drain , then . I remember when I was Yeah .
Idiom: claim to fame (used idiomatically: yes)
But these are not what the motorists come for . Nor is it the knowledge that Foxton , a haunt of foxes even in Saxon times , is a meeting place among others of one of the great Leicestershire Hunts , the Fernie , however important a cause that may be for assemblies of motorists in the county . Its chief claim to fame , local , national and even international , is that it focuses very sharply on that other great nostalgia of the motor age , the canals of Britain . Here near to Foxton are examples of all sorts of things that excite the blood of the canal enthusiast : a delightful cut through the centre of the village taking the boatman to the once prosperous wharves and building yards of Market Harborough ; a wonderful hand - operated swingbridge allowing the more adventurous visitors to negotiate Swingbridge Lane on their own ; visible and tangible memories of boatmen 's inns . But the most exciting things of all are out of sight of the village itself .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: no)
The wall can be found behind the Beran Filling Station , which lies at the highest point of the Bangor on Llanberis road ( B4547 ) , about 200 metres from the Deiniolen turn - off . Opening times and admission charges have not yet been published . Rumours circulating recently suggesting a ‘ super route’ had been climbed in Twll Mawr ( Dinorwig Quarries ) proved to be untrue , and the chalk spotted on Johnny Dawes ' bold route The Indian Face ( Cloggy ) , still unrepeated , came from an inspection by a local activism , who decided discretion was better than a serious scuffing ! The long awaited guide to the Ormes , by Steve Meyers , has appeared , but one marvels at the arrogance of a publisher who can not be bothered to credit in full the first ascent teams . The majority of the routes on the Ormes were not climbed as sport climbs , but as traditional routes where the second played a crucial role .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: no)
The arrival of the ‘ new’ Meteor and Hunter will enable the exciting theme of high speed flight to be pursued with vigour . Neither Andy Saunders nor Peter Dimond shy away from the fact that a broader , more general aviation history needs also to be presented , lest ‘ Joe Public’ be made to feel alienated . Meteor Special EE549 during its stay on the gate at Innsworth — it carried a suitable inscription on the nose . With these aims in mind the airframe ‘ fleet’ is being reorientated . The ‘ old’ Hunter and Meteor were auctioned at the Sotheby 's sale on September 19 ( FP November , p30)— but failed to sell .
Idiom: carry the day (used idiomatically: yes)
With a casual message into his radio , he marched straight in , grabbed one of the fighters and forced his way through the crowd using his prisoner as a shield . With his back to a wall and his prisoner in front of him , he faced the crowd until help arrived . This all sounds like dashing stuff , but if his sheer audacity had not carried the day , he would have been unable to defend himself against so many . Even he did n't consider such deeds heroic ( heroes are usually frightened men who rise to the occasion ) , but saw himself as just a reckless fool whose luck would one day run out . On a purely practical note , once you have assessed your opponent , avoid looking at any particular part of him .
Idiom: join the club (used idiomatically: yes)
Together with essential information required for watching cricket the club is also sending : a leaflet on postcodes , an estate agent 's brochure , a building society 's promotion , some information about a firm of accountants , an application form for an upmarket credit card firm , an offer to buy a gas fire , an announcement from a cigarette manufacturer , a letter from another firm of accountants , and a list of paints . It will take most of the summer to read this lot . Nobody could ever have thought that joining a cricket club was like opening a Sunday paper colour supplement . You get enough bumph for a year . FUNDRAISERS had a double surprise in store when they handed over two cheques to charity .
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ What about your relatives?’ Maggie asked Mr Lennox . ‘ Old Auntie Mary , she 's seventy - six you know , had a heart attack and Uncle George broke a leg getting her upstairs away from the flood water . Now they 're both being looked after , and our only casualties I 'm happy to say . ‘ Our family got off light altogether,’ Mrs Lennox said .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
Fiona Jordan , defending , said Williams could remember little of what happened because he had taken Ecstasy at a rave party . Keele University 's registrar Dr David Cohen said last night : ‘ This incident undoubtedly set back research . Any hold - up is potentially damaging to patients in the long run.’ Clamp driver in saw terror A FURIOUS motorist held two people hostage with a hacksaw after his car was clamped .
Idiom: get the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
This is the example that I wanted to quote in erm , in er , answer to er , the question you asked me earlier . I forget what it was now , but anyway , now I know what the answer was going to be . The answer was going to be that er , just as we look back on Darwin and do n't notice his Lamarckism , in , in a sense , Darwin was n't as Darwinian as we might now think , so we 've probably got a picture of Freud which is , er , more Freudian as it were , than Freud really was . Freudian in the modern world , has come to mean a belief , predominantly , that human behaviour is influenced by early experience . That 's what most people understand Freudian psychology to be .
Idiom: spot on (used idiomatically: no)
No presents from the Millwall defence though … United kept on trying … but it was the same old story … no luck Millwall on the other hand made it look all to easy … their sub Verveeay was a yard too quick for the Oxford defence … and his shot was spot on … victory for Millwall … for Oxford it 's the bleak midwinter … the FA Cup may be over for Hereford , but we hope for better things from Swindon and Oxford : Here 's a reminder of the draw for the Third round — they were the first two out of the bag — both at home too .
Idiom: born and bred (used idiomatically: yes)
I remembered Mandeville 's words as we approached the house . Was the sinister influence of the Temple beginning to work its effect ? Now , I tell you this , I am a rogue born and bred . I have great difficulty in distinguishing between my property and anyone else 's , or at least I used to , but I do not like to be dismissed as stupid . True , we had discovered nothing at Glastonbury or of why Cosmas and Damien had been killed .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: no)
They can detect this flavour even when their home water is diluted to one part in several million . This memory draws them across several hundred miles of ocean , brings them to a particular bay and , as the scent gets stronger and stronger , up one special river and into one particular stream . We know that it is smell that guides them , for salmon with their nostrils blocked get lost . Unhampered , the accuracy of their memory and navigation is astounding . Many thousands of young fish have been marked soon after they hatched .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: yes)
4 A damaged ball from an older pattern can be unscrewed and replaced . As a temporary repair , empty out water and encase the ball in a polythene bag tied with elastic NEWS UPdate INSULATION BOARD REDUCES NOISE THROUGH WALLS
Idiom: bear in mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Do whelks fed on prey a grow faster or slower than those fed on prey b ? Considering simply the non - adult component of ( 11 ) above , measure the new growth of shell since the mark . Bearing in mind that growth rate is related to size in a non - linear manner , compare growth rates of whelks of the same initial size marked as feeding on different prey . 14 . How many barnacles ( or mussels ) are eaten in a given time ?
Idiom: hold court (used idiomatically: yes)
The Great Hall had been specially prepared for the festive occasion . Huge cresset torches were placed high on the walls , the tables had been covered with white linen and the only plate used was of the best thick silver . D'Aubigny held court from his chair on the great dais . He was dressed in a rich robe of gold , fringed with black velvet , over a doublet of blood - red silk and black and white hose . On his head was a rakishly set bonnet , pinned to his hair by a silver brooch fashioned in a shape of a fleur de lys .
Idiom: in the running (used idiomatically: yes)
The appeal was dismissed . It remains now for Charringtons to upgrade the decoration and general management style of this marvellous pub , and make the most of its fine architectural qualities . Inter - war interior design depended on subtelty and understatement , neither of which are much valued in the running of a pub today . Yet buildings like the Nag 's Head and the Prospect Inn are among the most delightful of their period , and their careful restoration might inspire similar and much needed projects elsewhere . The Prospect Inn , Minster - on - Thanet , Kent by Oliver Hill in 1939 ( Alan Powers ) .
Idiom: in the final analysis (used idiomatically: yes)
But in practice , as we have seen , courts have enjoyed a considerable degree of autonomy thanks to the failure of successive governments over the years to develop an overall sentencing policy of their own , or even to articulate a coherent set of principles from which a jurisprudence of sentencing might emerge . So to that extent , it is not unreasonable to hold the courts largely responsible for the current crisis . for in the final analysis both the remand and the committals explosions appear to be largely the result of excessive caution in the way magistrates exercise their discretion in relation to bail and venue decisions . Similarly , the explosion in the population of sentenced prisoners , which was an ongoing phenomenon for most of the 1990s , appears to be largely attributable to the persistent practice of ‘ over - sentencing’— both in the sense of using custody unnecessarily for minor property offenders and others , and of imposing longer sentences across the board than is required for strictly reductivist purposes — for which responsibility rests mainly , but not exclusively , with the Crown Court . The Way Ahead ?
Idiom: on the dot (used idiomatically: yes)
I get a rash there . What . On the dot your dinner 's done . You know what er Wendy come Yeah .
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ She can not move!’ said one . ‘ Not much at least,’ said another . ‘ Certainly not … to catch me here!’ said the third , lifting on the breeze above me and hovering over the top of the pole where the trap was . He landed and stared down at me and at the blood of my broken wing , his terrible beak opening just a little with the pleasure of what he saw ; while I hung there , trying to watch all three at once and knowing that one of them would attack suddenly and then be gone as another came in from a different direction . I knew that there is no death worse for an eagle than death at the beaks of hooded crows .
Idiom: turn heads (used idiomatically: yes)
' Wakey - wakey ! ' Slowly struggling up from the depths of deep unconsciousness , Laura flicked open her eyelids , only to shut them firmly again as she winced at the brilliant sunshine flooding in through the windows of the bedroom . Alerted by a slight sound , she again opened her eyes , turning her head slowly to see a cup and saucer being placed on a nearby small table . Raising her gaze , she saw Ross 's tall figure standing beside the bed . ' I see you are awake — at last ! '
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
A second or ten minutes . I heard a rustle . Vern was taking something out of his pocket . I turned and looked at him . It was my packet of dried fruit , half eaten .
Idiom: off and on (used idiomatically: no)
He 's got some but he 's not very enthusiastic . I thought you said you liked it ? I go off and on it , but Oh . sometimes I do , and sometimes I do n't .
Idiom: blaze a trail (used idiomatically: yes)
That will be ironic , as Yorkshire have not retained Tendulkar only because of India 's planned tour . SHIRE GRIT ! YORKSHIRE cricket is blazing the international trail after always accepting only home - grown talent in the past Aussie paceman Craig McDermott ( above left ) was the first overseas star expected to join the county , but the move fell through and Tendulkar came over from India instead . Now Tendulkar has been replaced by West Indies ' skipper Richie Richardson ( above ) CHEERS !
Idiom: in light of (used idiomatically: yes)
Such an association had led in May 1986 to the removal of Stalker as head of a controversial inquiry team into allegations of a " shoot - to - kill " policy by the Royal Ulster Constabulary ( RUC)[see pp . 36239 - 40 ] . A number of developments followed the collapse of the Taylor trial . The Director of Public Prosecutions urged the Greater Manchester police to investigate the trial in the light of allegations of police corruption , while the Manchester police authority announced that it was itself to hold such an inquiry . David Waddington , the Home Secretary , rejected calls for a judicial inquiry into Stalker 's original removal from the RUC inquiry team , and Stalker himself claimed that he possessed documents which showed that the removal had been decided by senior Cabinet and Home Office officials . Waddington stated in a written parliamentary reply on April 4 , 1990 , that following his study of such documents he had concluded that the removal had been based on straightforward facts .
Idiom: go public (used idiomatically: yes)
Eastman Kodak Co 's Japanese unit has had to pay about $ 20,000 each to those eight new college graduates for reneging on its promise to employ them : the money is to compensate for the psychological damage the last - minute cancellation may have caused them , and provide some of the salary they expected . COMPUTER OUTSOURCING TO ACQUIRE BILLING AND PAYROLL SERVICE PROVIDER New York - based Computer Outsourcing Services Inc , which said it wanted to make acquisitions when it went public the other day , has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a private New York - based provider of billing and payroll services to companies in the home health care industry on a four - year earnout . SIERRA ON - LINE CUTS STAFF Oakhurst , California - based Sierra On - Line Inc has cut its staff by about 10 % and will take a $ 900,000 charge to cover the costs ; it warns that fourth quarter losses will be substantially greater than expected , based on current revenue projections at the Sierra Network combined with the lay - off charges .
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
Recklessness as to the truth or falsity of accusations may amount to malice , but not " carelessness , impulsiveness or irrationality . " " Lack of care for the consequences of exuberant reporting is not malice and nor is mere inaccuracy or a failure to make inquiries or accidental or negligent mis - quotation . The plaintiff must show that the defendant has turned a blind eye to truth in order to advance an ulterior object . An example is provided by one Parkinson , a Victorian clean - up campaigner , whose moral objection to " public dancing " led him to allege that a ballet at the Royal Aquarium had involved a Japanese female catching a butterfly " in the most indecent place you could possibly imagine . " Confronted with evidence that the performer in question was neither Japanese nor female , and in any event was dressed in pantaloons , Parkinson confessed that he had difficulty observing the performance , and that his object in making the allegation was to revoke the Aquarium 's dancing licence .
Idiom: one of those things (used idiomatically: no)
How Are you having second thoughts about having it , dear ? I 'm not so hundred percent certain it 's not one of those things that I think Right . Well I what I think Suzannah and I are both genuinely in favour .
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Plucky stuff . Admire you for it . But it 's out of the question . Completely , utterly . Not to be thought of.’
Idiom: in the same breath (used idiomatically: yes)
Cleaning Windows Sir : I have been reading with interest your article on Windows 3.1 in the first issue of Practical PC and I feel certain points about Windows Multimedia capabilities need clarifying . Although the soundblaster and Adlib cards are mentioned in the same breath when referring to to their support by Windows , I think that it should be pointed out that unlike the SoundBlaster card , the Adlib card ( not including the Adlib Gold ) can only play MID files via the Media Player , and is not capable of playing the digitised speech WAV files . Also the ‘ I 'll be back’ WAV file that you say you assigned to Windows events and the internal speaker driver , are not supplied with Windows 3.1 . You probably acquired yours with a beta test copy of Windows .
Idiom: cock a snook (used idiomatically: yes)
or hauling first years through the long - jump pit . They were peas in a pod ; two blue - eyed blondes who cocked a snook at Phyllis and Simone as they were unaffectionately dubbed , and held hands on the furthest playing fields