Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: keep a low profile (used idiomatically: yes)
Although they have yet to fully scrutinise the book , sources close to Venables cite at least four areas in which action might be appropriate . In a serialised version of the book under a headline : ‘ Venables never made Spurs his top priority’ , Scholar alleged : ‘ Tottenham , alas , never seemed to get his full attention.’ Venables who has attempted to keep a low profile , hoping not to give the book credence , will point out that he invested £ 3½ million , and many hours of his day to seize control of the club , when his successful takeover bid helped solve Tottenham 's financial problems , and oust Scholar as a consequence . Scholar also revealed details of Venables 's contract when he joined the club as manager from Barcelona . It was stated Venables received a £ 500,000 signing - on fee but Venables says the figure was just £ 50,000 .
Idiom: off the wall (used idiomatically: no)
ON THE MEND : Oliver with mum Caroline . His birthday treat ended in agony OFF THE WALL : Bouncy castles can cause injuries How the good guys saved Linda 's day PAUL FOOT
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: yes)
CLOSURE - threatened London Zoo has been given a last - minute reprieve because so many people want to visit it . Booming attendances during the summer school holidays brought in an extra £ 500,000 at the turnstiles . Now the hard - up zoo in Regent 's Park is set to break even over the current financial year . The Council of the Zoological Society of London had planned to shut down at the end of September . But a spokesman said last night : ‘ A gift of £ 1 million has also been received from the Emir of Kuwait .
Idiom: pecking order (used idiomatically: yes)
This cry , uttered in 1908 by a property magnate called Toad , marked the beginnings of the British disease of autophilia — an uncontrollable obsession with the motor car . It is now epidemic . Any foreign manager arriving in Britain is amazed to find that the permutations of Ford Sierra , Vauxhall Cavalier and the like that he must offer his staff now define the pecking order in British society . He ignores them at his peril . The epidemic took hold during the 1970s , when high rates of income tax and an attempt by successive governments to control pay made the company - owned car a good way of rewarding people surreptitiously .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
I do n't think the club player is putting the same commitment and time . ' The club game has always been left a bit behind . Rugby hangs its hat on the international game but that 's also where the funds come from for the grass - roots development . That there are now 40-odd rugby development officers in Australia when there were two or three to capitalise on the 1984 Grand Slam tour is tremendous ' . Farr - Jones is n't saying it in as many words , but he clearly feels that some of the doors opened by the World Cup triumph were not marched through quickly or expertly enough .
Idiom: pure and simple (used idiomatically: yes)
The third theme is to the effect that localisation consists in movement , or in a felt tendency to movement , either of a hand or foot to the part of one 's body touched ( Gardner Murphy ) , or of one 's eyes in the direction of the part touched ( Alexander Bain ) . From their written works it would appear that most psychologists up to about 1935 have assumed that these three things , separately or together , must constitute the whole of what we mean when we speak of a person feeling a touch as a touch on his shoulder or a pain as a pain in his foot . Little has been written on the subject since then , but one may infer from the few remarks that are made on it that psychologists are no longer so impressed by ‘ the insuperable logical difficulty’ James believed there to be in the way of saying that the difference between sensations may be one of ‘ place pure and simple’ . Indeed , the whole point of the local sign theory , as an alternative to the ‘ place pure and simple’ account has been lost on some psychologists . Thus K. F. Muenzinger writes : ‘ When a point on the skin is stimulated by contact , the perception contains not merely the element of touch but also that of a definite place where the contact occurs .
Idiom: no laughing matter (used idiomatically: yes)
OVERPOPULATION , NOISE , CARS AND CATS ALL Trouble SPIKE MILLIGAN . HE PUT HIS PERSONAL PROGRAMME FOR THE ENVIRONMENT TO TREVOR LAWSON Living in the countryside is no laughing matter for humorist Spike Milligan . A one - time regular denizen of city theatres and radio broadcast suites , one might argue that only an ex - Goon would have chosen to live along Dumb Woman 's Lane in a small hamlet near Rye in West Sussex . But choice did n't really come into it .
Idiom: come unstuck (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Money is my motivation , but what keeps me at the top is that I 'm petrified of losing . ‘ At 34 and zero the odds are getting thinner . I have surely got to come unstuck sometime along the line , but do n't bet any serious money on it.’ Eubank goes back into the gym on Wednesday to train for his next fight at London 's Olympia on February 20 , presumably against just another hand - picked mug . ‘ I 'll choose anyone that I can beat,’ admitted Eubank .
Idiom: at the drop of a hat (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's always fatal.’ When Charles protested that he was always volunteering , they wanted to know what for . ‘ Oh everything — at the drop of a hat . Anything that might produce a bit of action . But the CO vetoes me every time.’
Idiom: in the short run (used idiomatically: yes)
I have found no evidence that at any stage anyone said ‘ what is this Sterling Area , and is it obviously a good thing for Britain?’ Typically , the sterling area was assumed a ‘ good thing’ , the justification of which needed only to be made to foreigners ( especially Americans ) . The major economic argument for the area was as a way of expanding the zone of multilateral trade in the short run , and as a source of ‘ highly beneficial trading and banking relations’ . While such a view is not absurd , it hardly touches on the issues which would have to be addressed for any overall assessment . Though the authorities do not seem to have been aware of the scale and significance of capital flows within the sterling area , they were aware that the exchange controls in that area were not all that London hoped .
Idiom: mark time (used idiomatically: yes)
While group profits tumbled from £ 38½m to £ 21 m last year — after £ 6 m of exceptional closure costs — both the other divisions turned in better figures . Aviation saw profits rise from £ 10.2 m to £ 11.1 m . It may mark time this year , not least because of the drop in production of the British Aerospace Jetstream 31 aircraft for which Hunting makes the interior . But Hunting has invested £ 10 m of its own money in BAe 's new Jetstream 41 which is now going into production . The division 's profits edged up from £ 10.6 m to £ 11.3 m thanks to an excellent performance from the Hammerite protective coatings business in Britain .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: yes)
Five years ago they invited me to go and spend Christmas with them . It was an old house , with lots of unnecessary passages and staircases . A stranger could get lost in it quite easily . Well , I went down for that Christmas . Violet Sangston promised me that I knew most of the other guests .
Idiom: let your hair down (used idiomatically: yes)
There are dolls in costume here from virtually every country in the world . Dolls , like everyone else , should have somewhere to live and here is a veritable estate of miniature houses . Since this is a fun , letting - your - hair - down sort of show , there is also a trampoline , a rocking horse , a model , pedal - powered and car battery - operated train as well as rides on Muffin the Mule for which you need only a 5p token that can be purchased , by the bucketful downstairs . SHOWING off their musical skills on Saturday , 40 talented young musicians will be playing in concerts that give a taste of the high grade work these youngsters can produce . In the second - ever Players of Distinction concert held in Darlington , 20 younger aged children from the area are giving an afternoon concert and the older players perform at 7 pm .
Idiom: anything goes (used idiomatically: yes)
Ah well . What we 're left with is four young men from a Kent dormitory town whose ‘ Congratulations’ single , a cynical but groovy off - colour shuffle , is one of the treats of the spring . Jefferson Airhead are definitely a band of the times — young but old - headed , exuberant but smart , and fired with the possibilities of the new pop euphoria ; anything goes and Jefferson Airhead are going along with it all . ‘ When we were putting together our demos,’ says singer Mike , ‘ we heard ‘ The Only One I Know’by The Charlatans and I was really pissed off because I thought it was exactly what we were trying to do … and they 'd got there first.’ But do n't let such talk put you off .
Idiom: get it up (used idiomatically: no)
At some point it 'll be at the University . The Oxford English . But it wo n't be arriving there until they get this Well they have the C D ROM , they just have n't got it up and running . Erm well they have n't got it networked yet but they have the C D ROM players there already . Yeah .
Idiom: with a will (used idiomatically: yes)
The Book of Kings and Chronicles , several passages in which are echoed in the dictum , were of great assistance both to the bishops and to the kings ; and anyone who wishes to understand medieval kingship should study these books very closely . The kings they portray were a mixture of human heroism , divinely inspired wisdom and very human failings . The prophets they portray were at once more civilized than their masters and more closely in touch with the divine will . A Christian bishop was bound to look in the Bible for precedents for his mode of action ; and what he found had many remarkable analogies with his own predicament . These precedents did not settle the balance of power between bishops and kings ; but they helped to clarify their different functions ; and function was a thing of the highest importance in the complex hierarchy of medieval society .
Idiom: go through the motions (used idiomatically: yes)
Even when hunched on the top step , no chink can be seen leaking around the doorframe , because it is perfectly insulated with foam plastic strip . Although I put my hands together every night — with Ma , when she 's home , otherwise on my own — I have not prayed since the rainbow incident . ( I may have gone through the verbal motions once or twice , but that 's all . ) I do not pray down here . What I do , when I 'm sent down here , is sums and tables .
Idiom: night and day (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You ca n't . So if I ca n't have you here , if you 're determined to leave Venice , then I 'm coming with you . I 'll camp outside your cottage and beat on your door night and day till it finally gets into your stupid , dense head that I love you.’ ‘ I do n't —’ She found herself faltering , wishing , hoping , and wondered if she was being stupid . Dense .
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
You know , there are a string of the things of this kind of nature to try to make village shops er , more viable to try and ensure their survival . Erm , there 's just one item which m might be added , or perhaps our representatives on this body could take it up some time , and that 's the amount of deposit which is needed by the post office from er , new tenants , I do n't know if they 're called tenants , or licensees whatever , to run rural post offices . I believe that if the post office changes hands , that 's quite a crucial time because the newcomers may have to put up front quite a large sum of money . I know this was the case in an Oswestry post office , although it was a , on , on a suburban estate where there had actually been er security problems , or pilfering problems there . But perhaps you could look into that .
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
How does one describe the power of the Holy Spirit ? I 'm sure that in itself is one of God 's great mysteries . Because the kind of earthly and human illustrations that I 've been trying to use this morning are all bound to fall short . But the spirit generates the faith by which we know Christ , and it 's surely that which makes all the difference between the a mere interest in an historical Jesus and our real living faith in our risen conquering son . Today we are celebrating the sacrament of the Lord 's Supper .
Idiom: kiss of death (used idiomatically: yes)
two members , Karen and Andrew , is because Kevin says that you two are so clever and he said , you would be bound to win that puts the kiss of death on the So Andrew , Kevin and Karen are together so that 's alright , then it 's Michelle and Mutty and Paul and it 's Nana and Adrian , my brother 's Well Nana and Adrian and Michael are sitting in there .
Idiom: with a view to (used idiomatically: yes)
New warnings for Second World Climate conference The Stockholm Environment Institute has issued a report recommending that limits be defined for average global temperatures and sea level . The report lists practical measures that , if implemented , will help restrict greenhouse gas emissions with a view to meeting these targets . Released by a group of independent scientists to coincide with the Second World Climate Conference , the report said that to minimise the risk of environmental damage , the rate of increase of average global temperature must be held below 0.2C per decade . An absolute increase of more than 2C above pre - industrial levels will , said the report , lead to " rapid , unpredictable and non - linear responses " .
Idiom: look before you leap (used idiomatically: yes)
First decide on the video format , and then jot down a short - list of the features you consider to be really essential , bearing in mind the cost of the models which include these . Having narrowed the field , do a tour of the shops and try as many different models as you can , keeping a watchful eye on such things as good picture definition and colour , no picture ‘ jitter’(unsteadiness ) , and good sound recording with low hiss and mechanical noise pick - up . Whatever you decide , it pays to look before you leap . At the end of the day , a camcorder with sound , basic design is going to give you years of creative pleasure , even if it does n't have all the latest sales gimmicks ! Camcorder Day One
Idiom: with a will (used idiomatically: no)
The bill creates a Legal Services Ombudsman to oversee complaints against solicitors and barristers . The ombudsman will have power to recommend that a lawyer or professional body pay compensation , but not to compel payment . Solicitors will lose their monopoly on applying for grants of probate to deal with wills . Banks , building societies and insurance companies will be able to apply for probate if they have a proper complaints handling scheme . The bill envisages that non - lawyers belonging to professional bodies may be given rights to conduct litigation in some types of cases .
Idiom: jockey for position (used idiomatically: yes)
Nick Broomfield was hired to record the event . It was a nightmare : early on , his budget dropped from dollars l6 m to £ 300,000 , and his crew was reduced to two . Driving Me Crazy mercilessly records the squalls , the vibrant performances and the inertia of the production team , who spend most of their time solemnly discussing what black music means to them and jockeying for pole position . Broomfield gets under everyone 's feet , but soldiers on and ends up with a revealing , funny film about the petty power plays and outsize egos of showbiz . Rushes
Idiom: once and for all (used idiomatically: yes)
Relevant income for any year of assessment , in relation to an individual is any income which arises in that year to a person resident or domiciled outside the United Kingdom and which by virtue or in consequence of the transfer or associated operations referred to in the main charging provision — s740—can directly or indirectly be used for providing a benefit for the individual or for enabling a benefit to be provided for him . It is possible to construe the words " the relevant income of a year of assessment " in two ways , ie as establishing a " once - and - for - all " test or as establishing a " continuing review " test . Under the " once - and - for - all " test what matters is that the income can be used to benefit the individual in question in the year of assessment in which it arises , and it does not matter if it is not possible so to apply that income in a subsequent year of assessment . Under the " continuing review " test , what matters is whether the income can directly or indirectly be used for providing a benefit for the individual at the time the benefit in question is in fact conferred on him . As part of their representations on the 1981 Finance Bill , the Law Society recommended that income should not be " relevant income " to the extent that it was paid away to some person other than the recipient of the relevant benefit either before or after the receipt of the relevant benefit as it had by then ceased to be available as a source of funds out of which the relevant benefit could be paid .
Idiom: down the drain (used idiomatically: yes)
So I would n't save it at all I would do away with the lot . Yeah , just as a , as a side issue , I am interested that they 've been growing plum tomatoes because each year I hear of more and more people growing plum tomatoes successfully in this country and while we are just on the subject of diseases and things to control them , you may remember that a few weeks ago we were giving advice on how we should dispose of waste garden chemicals and , and we said you ought to pour it down an outside drain . Well , apparently that used to be the official advice er and , and we were correct in that but the authorities have now changed their minds and they no longer want us to pour waste chemical down the drains and I gather that the official advice now is that surplus diluted chemical should be poured , and I 'm quoting here , on to more or less level and bare soil in the garden or on to level gravelled paths , avoid disposal in areas around ponds , erm water courses and so forth , dishes and , and what have you and as far as undiluted chemicals are concerned , that 's stuff still in the bottle , the advice there is to talk to your local authority cos they have different regulations in different areas . If anyone wants chapter and verse on this the erm address of the British Agro - chemicals Association who put out this literature will be on our fact sheet . Now remember some years ago , and I remember this , that we said that it would inadvisable to collect rain water off a new felt roof .
Idiom: to the letter (used idiomatically: yes)
Yours sincerely , Dear With reference to your letter of 20 July in which you request special leave following the death of your mother . I know your mother had been ill for some time , but I know that this will not have lessened the loss you and your family must now feel . Please accept my sincere condolences .
Idiom: laughing stock (used idiomatically: yes)
One member of staff called Flashman ‘ an animal’ . A player , who did not want to be identified , said : ‘ The whole place has gone crazy again . Flashman has made us the laughing stock of football . ‘ Before training , Barry called a meeting and said the chairman had accused us of being greedy bastards and blamed us for the fine . ‘ He seems to hold David Howell , who 's still owed three weeks ' money , particularly responsible and wants him out of the club .
Idiom: go to seed (used idiomatically: yes)
His ‘ peculiar gloating obsequious humour ’ , his ‘ sort of capricious self-satisfaction ’ lurking in the very midst of ‘ plaintive protestations ’ , are described and pondered . We learn that ‘ he began to pay great attention to his dreams ’ . We learn it , though , as a sign of his going to seed — and we wonder . We pause and wonder . We recall that the narrator is a young man .
Idiom: on the back burner (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It is now up to Forest to complete the business situation regarding my transfer.’ Ireland manager Jack Charlton is thought to have played a part in the delay over Keane 's announcement . He wants the matter to be put on the back burner until the Republic have taken another important step towards next year 's USA finals . Milestone The Belfast - Liverpool service will move to the new VT3 berth this autumn .
Idiom: call someone's bluff (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Whenever you like , Nanny.’ ‘ No time like the present.’ She 'd called his bluff . She took his arm firmly , just above the elbow , and jerked him halfway off his stool . He was putty in her hands from the beginning .
Idiom: to boot (used idiomatically: no)
Cos I 've been silly in the past , I 've told Evelyn lots of times and we had a new machine , a rapid na nailer , it er nailed er army sho er soles onto the at five hun it used to do three hundred and fifty nails a minute and we m made one just for I er went out on the road , er to five hundred a minute you see , and er we were building the first half a dozen and er er there 's two pawls at the back of the machine Ooh we do n't want to know . Ah but th th th there 's a rack and w one goes on and holds the horn post up to the boot while it 's driven , then it comes out and there 's two , one 's half a tooth , so it ensures one or the other 's in , and they work like that . We do n't want to know all this . r er Northampton and then finally I went to Rushden , and er this top one , , and his mate come out of the toilet , been for a smoke , and er walking by I said hey Les , look at this , and I spun the cam round and it went bang and stopped dead .
Idiom: laughing stock (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ They were sawing it in half and heaving all these rocks around on the Saturday morning trying to make it look like anything other than a total abortion . In the end we just let the audience in or we 'd have been there all day.’ It gave Spinal Tap the inspiration for ‘ Stonehenge’ , but otherwise the Reading Festival must have barely registered beyond ‘ laughing stock’ status in the minds of Barbara 's ‘ intelligent , discerning’young music fans . After farmer Desmond Drayton granted use of his fields adjoining the original site , it returned in ' 86 with a hurriedly assembled bill featuring The Mission , Killing Joke , FM , Saxon , New Model Army , It Bites and Hawkwind , only to confirm that Reading was suffering from a massive non - identity crisis . That 1971 Genesis contract in full .
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: yes)
THE ULTIMATE teen movie , a sharp - edged black comedy which mercilessly swipes at adolescent angst , peer pressure , consumerism , and that old favourite , the generation gap . Winona Ryder is the reluctant member of the elite ' Heathers ' crowd who becomes an unwitting murderess after hooking up with the new boy at school , rough diamond Christian Slater — giving his best Jack Nicholson impersonation . Peppered with infinitely quotable one - liners and featuring some seriously over - the - top set - pieces , Lehmann 's film is a relentless attack on the vacuous youth of America , let down by some lame moralising in the last 30 seconds . The perfect antidote to Beverly Hills 90210 . 1990 — GOODFELLAS
Idiom: in the flesh (used idiomatically: yes)
Along with Turlington , Cindy Crawford , Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista , Schiffer is one of the select group of supermodel icons who have achieved international celebrity . She is recognized wherever she goes . When she recently appeared at a New York department store to promote a scent , over 5,000 people turned up to catch a precious glimpse of her in the flesh . Fans send her presents of teddy bears and expensive perfume . Occasionally , they demand locks of her hair .