Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
If quick decisions are needed , say during the sales , then at least work out the approximate size of the spaces you have in mind and look out for pieces of furniture that will best fit into them . MAKING DO WITH WHAT YOU HAVE Very few people have the luxury of starting completely from scratch although those who do seldom see it as an advantage . Most of us have possessions we want , or have to go on using , so the best thing to do is to take a very positive attitude and use them as jumping - off points . Let a rug or painting suggest or inspire the colour scheme ; if you ca n't revamp old curtains ( though beware ! re - making can sometimes be just as expensive as starting afresh ) turn them into cushions ; cut down carpets which no longer fit but are too good to be thrown out , and make them into small rugs .
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
After a month in the country which , as Communist Party boss , he controlled for 13 years in the ' 70s and ' 80s , his opinion poll rating is 70 per cent , compared with just eight per cent for Mr Gamsakhurdia . ‘ The whole world listens to him , he is like God for us now,’ said one taxi driver . Mr Shevardnadze chose the moment of his return well , arriving at Georgia 's darkest hour : the whole country periodically blacked out by power cuts , hot water and central heating a dim memory , public transport ground to a halt , and even bread rarely to be seen . But soon after his arrival , the spring thaw enabled hydro - electric stations to start generating , and bread supplies returned to normal levels of insufficiency . ‘ Consciously or not this is bound to influence anybody 's opinion of him,’ said Mikhail Tavkhelidze , a Georgian radio journalist .
Idiom: pie in the sky (used idiomatically: yes)
In other words , investors are expecting to receive only about half of what they are owed . The hope is that the reduction in borrowing costs on new loans , plus the austerity programs promised by governments , will enable bond prices to recover to par without the need for the creditor banks to take a hit . This is pie in the sky . Unless a large part of its debt is forgiven , Greece will not regain creditworthiness . ( Indeed , by most accounts , it is about to default . )
Idiom: fall from grace (used idiomatically: yes)
I can not think what came over me as I was brought up chapel like you but unfortunately my father was a miner and not a grocer . I happened to have with me the journal of Dorothy Wordsworth on my trip to the Dales as I had forgotten to return it to the public library , and you have my word that I dropped it the instant I was made aware that they were harbouring a drug addict . There is no connection between it and my son 's fall from grace as I 'm sure you will understand . It was n't your fault that Mark got lost in the Sahara was it . ? You can tell them till you 're blue in the face and they still do what they want .
Idiom: for a song (used idiomatically: no)
During July we were on the Women 's Heart tour — 28 gigs in 30 nights , packed houses all the way . I really enjoyed it , but I was glad when it was over for it was very tiring . ’ Kieran has now Rostrevor home to Dublin for six months where he intends , as he puts it , to ‘ lie low ’ for a while , writing songs and preparing for his and Frances 's second album . ‘ Like Frances , who has a family , I 'd like to spend a bit more time at home , ’ he said , ‘ for I have a lot of material on tape and you ca n't write songs when you 're on the road . ‘ At the end of the day , it is as a songwriter that I would most like to be remembered .
Idiom: get the boot (used idiomatically: no)
For once though Town had the luck … about time to … and they made sure of victory with a well worked second goal from Andy Mutch … scoring against your old team is always sweet … even sweeter when it gives Town a favourites chance of reaching the next round of the cup … But the warning signs were there too … Wolves are n't beaten yet … and two goals is no great mountain to climb … if you 've got the right boots on … Luckily Wolves did n't last night … and Town keep Fraser Digby had springs in his as he pulled off the save of the game … At the other end …
Idiom: go for broke (used idiomatically: yes)
In a stew ? Lovejoy ( Ian McShane ) A NEW management consultancy is going for broke . We received notification of advice sessions for Merseyside businesses . According to the release sent out on behalf of Liverpool - based Metel Corporate Training Services : ‘ Most owners and managers of small firms are too close to their businesses to see the overall picture .
Idiom: cook the books (used idiomatically: no)
George Campbell THE battle between the tour operators hotted up yesterday with another major travel agent link-up . Thomas Cook , the best-known name on the high street , has taken a leaf out of the book of Airtours ( which owns Pickfords ) and has snapped up a 10.3% stake in Owners Abroad , the UK 's second biggest operator . Cook , now owned by Germany 's WestDeutsche Landsbank and LTU , is subscribing for 22.5m new shares in OA at 100p each and in return the tour operator , run by Howard Klein , is investing £20m in Cook 9.33% fixed-rate loan notes , redeemable in the year 2002 . In financial terms , it is a shrewd move for both concerns because it is expected to boost Owners Abroad profits this year by as much as Pounds 15m .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: no)
Poor Keith had to go to this , he had to go the station every day on his bike Yeah and go all the way to Newport did n't he ? Yeah To school every day
Idiom: way to go (used idiomatically: no)
But it will take far longer for the core to turn . So far , change has occurred without the chaotic excesses , random U - turns and destructive instability that have characterised communism 's demise in some other former Eastern Bloc states . Such difficult transition demands time and balance and Romania has a long way to go before it is comfortable with its new identity . Wandering star in the Maastricht bandwagon PARLIAMENT has been reminding me this past week of some scenes from the musical Paint Your Wagon .
Idiom: pull rank (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ When it comes to someone getting ideas above her station , Anya … ’ She makes a rude gesture , involving several hypothetical orifices , then strides over to plant herself on the arm of Rainbow 's chair . ‘ An operative with your penchant for letting herself get trapped inside things should not attempt to pull rank . Look where you are , and then,’ she reaches out the undamaged arm to drape it cosily over Rainbow 's hunched - up shoulders , ‘ look where I am . Quod erat demonstratum.’
Idiom: in the works (used idiomatically: yes)
At a time when the child 's reading ability is extremely limited the use of historical artefacts provides an important strategy for history teachers . An artefact from the past can be used to engage interest and awaken curiosity . Objects can be used in a whole class session or in group work . Many fairly recent objects can be found at home , bought cheaply in second - hand shops or borrowed from local people . Often pupils will bring to school some object from home .
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: no)
4 Pour into the prepared cake tin and smooth the top level . Bake for the time specified in the chart , or in the case of the basic quantity given here , about 1 hour and 10 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean and dry . 5 Leave to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out and transferring to a wire rack to cool completely .
Idiom: dog eat dog (used idiomatically: no)
Increased thromboxane A 2 production may also contribute to thrombogenesis in atherosclerotic vessels . Thus platelet thromboxane A 2 production ( measured as the stable degradation form thromboxane B 2 ) is increased in patients with arterial or venous thrombosis ( Lagarde & Dechavanne , 1977 ) and myocardial infarction ( Szczeklik et al , 1978 ) . Similarly , following acute ligation of the coronary artery in dogs , high levels of thromboxane B 2 were found to be associated with cardiac arrhythmias ( Coker et al , 1981 ) . In addition , thromboxane B 2 levels were found to be elevated in the peripheral blood of patients with Prinzmetal angina ( Lewy et al , 1979 ; Robertson et al , 1981 ) and in coronary sinus blood of patients with unstable angina ( Hirsh et al , 1981 ) . Although the above description of experimental findings would suggest that exposure of collagen and lipid peroxides due to rupture of the atheromatous plaque could be of importance in thrombogenesis , together with enhanced platelet thromboxane A 2 formation and diminished vessel wall prostacyclin formation , Born has questioned this series of events ( Born , 1983 ) .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
Now she could only wait and see what happened . 8 The boy in the red shirt ‘ The boys from the school in Maidbridge are having a paper - chase today,’ said Bobbie , the next morning . ‘ Perks thinks they 'll go along beside the railway line .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
Restrictions placed on him by Thorn end in March and he has already head-hunted Steve Lewis , former boss of Richard Branson 's Virgin Music Publishing , to head-up a new label . The shares jumped 5p to 75p on the figures but reading between the lines the group 's remaining operations are not exactly dyanmic . The amusement machines side is deep in the red . Chrysalis 's interests now spread from Red Rooster Film & Television to recording arm Lasgo Exports , but information on divisional performance is sadly lacking . Forte turns eye to Savoy again
Idiom: fall short (used idiomatically: yes)
' He is a definite runner , all being well , ' said Cole , who restricted the colt to the minimum trip of five furlongs in his first year . ' He worked satisfactorily at home and is pleasing me . ' The trainer , who sent out Generous to win two Classics and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes last year , is looking for a replacement and although Magic Ring may fall a little bit short of that high mark , he is a most interesting contender for the major three - year - old races . A son of Green Desert , Magic Ring is out of an Empery mare and there are indications that he will stay a mile despite the amazing speed he displayed as a juvenile . ' He 'll get the trip of the Greenham [ seven furlongs]alright , but like some of the others , he will benefit from the outing , ' said Cole .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
Precisely because of the rebate given to Great ~ Britain , he continued , the EU subsidy for fighting the cattle disease was in the red .
Idiom: body blow (used idiomatically: yes)
In 1931–2 Danzig 's trade with Poland dropped from 8,300,000 tons to 5,400,000 tons . In 1934–5 Danzig 's share of Polish trade dropped from 47 per cent to 37 per cent . No city could absorb such a body - blow without showing the effects , and by 1937 Danzig was in severe financial difficulties . Not only had the Poles removed the bulk of their trade , but even the remaining Polish trade went to the Polish shipping firms who still operated out of Danzig , rather than to German concerns . Danzig found that whether it liked it or not , its life was dominated by Poland .
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
Dealers are sometimes told to sell stocks as a medium - term hold ( i.e. wait six months for something to happen ) . In practice , under threat of dismissal or of heavy fines , or even of just not making so much money as they might , many dealers succumb to the temptation of exaggerating short - term prospects . Directors know this is going on and turn a blind eye . They know that it bumps up sales figures . Inexperienced investors have often been known to put several thousand pounds into a little known company , on the strength of a five minute telephone conversation .
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: no)
Not speeches and resolutions but ' blood and iron ' would solve the problems . Such an attitude precluded agreements which were not backed by force , and it sounded the death - knell of ' court diplomacy ' , even supposing that this had ever been effective . In a tacit admission of this new state of affairs , Napoleon III , faced with an increasingly powerful Prussia which had seized the diplomatic initiative in Europe , tried a face - to - face meeting with Bismarck and not his sovereign . The two men met at Biarritz in September 1865 , by which time the general situation in Europe had altered to the disadvantage of France . The Emperor 's appeal in 1863 for a general European congress to settle ' outstanding problems ' had been rejected all round , Queen Victoria dismissing it as ' an impertinence ' .
Idiom: go west (used idiomatically: no)
Ivan Waterman ACTOR Roger Moore may get a second chance to sing his way to musical stardom in a movie version of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber 's Aspects Of Love . The former James Bond star got stagefright only weeks before the curtain was due to go up on the original West End show and made a shock exit . But composer Sir Andrew says Moore is now in the running to play ageing lothario George in the £15 million film , although he is also considering Michael Caine for the part . ‘ Roger had everything the role needed .
Idiom: keep tabs on (used idiomatically: yes)
He nodded . ‘ Do n't be mad at her , though , she was only doing as I 'd asked . Remember I told you I 'd be keeping tabs on you even though I was far away?’ ‘ You did it through Candy.’ ‘ Correct .
Idiom: with open arms (used idiomatically: no)
‘ I did n't ! But Elise was absolutely sure you did . She said that if I came here to the island and said I was sorry you 'd welcome me with open arms.’ She eyed him accusingly . ‘ You did n't , though .
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: yes)
I swear that was a gun . Would you say that was a gun , Vine ? ' Lieutenant - Colonel Joseph Ford , commanding officer of the Prince of Wales 's Own Volunteers , twisted in his saddle and stared anxiously at his senior Major who , because he was deaf , had heard nothing . Major Vine , thus unable to confirm or deny the sound which had so alarmed his Colonel , merely offered a bad - tempered scowl as a reply , so Colonel Ford looked past him to seek the opinion of the Captain of his light company . ' Was that a gun , d'Alembord ?
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
Her name was clear enough . What possible reason could a sane man have for thanking her for an evening that had never happened ? Then a mark on the back of the card caught her eye . It was nothing legible — just a pencil smudge , as if something had been written there and then rubbed out with a dirty eraser . But it jogged a memory somewhere , and she found herself examining it with a growing sense of unease .
Idiom: few and far between (used idiomatically: yes)
But er we , we had quite a difficulty , very , very difficult , we used to have to walk a long way before we could get to a telephone . Now , you all had whistles , did you use those much ? Oh we had whistles , and strangely enough , very seldom did we use them , simply because there were other traffic about that time if you were a long way away , er you might be nearly to , if you blew your whistle , there were nobody to hear you , I mean people in houses , and they were only few and far between . I , I , I do n't hardly think that I can remember blowing a whistle . I do n't really .
Idiom: grasp at straws (used idiomatically: yes)
MEDAU AMONGST THE BROWNIES The telephone rang , and a voice asked if I would help the local Brownie Pack with a ' Challenge ' using my knowledge of Medau Rhythmic Movement under the overall heading of Keep Fit . Remembering the agony of years gone by , teaching in Sunday School , I grasped at a straw and replied ' Sorry no transport ! ' However , Brownie Helper 's husband would act as chauffeur , so not being able to think of more excludes , I duly arrived at the appointed hour , to find a welcoming party of six little girls , all anxious to fetch and carry equipment . Inside the Scout Hut were assembled many more children in Brownie tunics and , after their ritual song and dance , I was launched into my part of the meeting .
Idiom: take the piss (used idiomatically: yes)
It 's only cos you 're a wanker is n't he ? bus stop si bus stop signs off the fucking things . He 's taking the piss out of you . Nick road signs and stuff . That 's the last thing you 've ever done you cunt .
Idiom: out and about (used idiomatically: yes)
Are you capable of getting to the library Christopher ? So we take Chri , Timothy to the story time and then you stay with me and we 'll potter around the shops and the little library . Actually that 'll be quite good cos that 'd be nice to see whether you can get out and about without keeling over ! And then you can come home and have a rest when you 've been . Mum !
Idiom: rock bottom (used idiomatically: yes)
First models only arrived from the Kuala Lumpur factory in March 1989 but it has since doubled budgeted sales here ( topping 18,000 by the end of 1990 ) , outsold Hyundai and Seat , and has a higher market share than several more illustrious name . Why ? It may lack a certain flair , it may have a garish badge , it may still be cheap and cheerful inside ( there are now some very attractive leather - look plastics about ) but it is proving to be a reliable , easy - to - drive family car with lots of equipment as standard and rock bottom prices . My test car was the top - of - the - range 1.6 Aerodeck SE ( a hatchback to you and me ) but at £ 9299 including delivery , plates and road tax , it 's a saving well into four figures over , say , the market leading Ford Escort . It tops a range of 10 saloons and hatches which start with the 1.3GL saloon at £ 7149 .
Idiom: on and off (used idiomatically: yes)
BY SUE CORBETT NORTHERN Ireland 's future sports champions have been hard at training — in the classroom ! For the province 's future Olympic hopefuls have been brushing up on skills both on and off the sports fields . The Dale Farm Olympic Youth Camp , held earlier this month in Antrim , dealt with topics that would have left old timers in sport shaking their head in disbelief . Mental
Idiom: way to go (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ That 's a shootable offence,’ says Watson , half - joking . Then there are incidents in which some spectators vie with each other to be the one to be heard on TV to shout ‘ you the man’ just as the player connects with his shot — sometimes interrupting his downswing . And there is the increase in shrieks of ‘ way to go’ . Golf is not privileged and much as it likes to think of itself as such , Augusta is not a cathedral . They seek only voluntary donations ; people pay their money to get in here .
Idiom: sweep the board (used idiomatically: yes)
Dogs attempted an obstacle course created by Daniella Toomey and Kate Harbon , regular helpers manned a cake stall and Irish wolfhound Boru was inviting visitors to guess his weight . For the main events rosettes had been donated by Swain and Jones of Farnham and prizes by BOCM Silcock . In the pedigree classes , judged by Mrs. S. Spooner , members of Headley Ringcraft swept the board . Best puppy award went to Petrocella , a Newfoundland bitch owned by Ken Pinner of Lindford , Lyn Lane of Headley 's Zeeta , a rare Shibu Inu breed , won the non - sporting title , and Gable , a spaniel belonging to Mrs. Wright of Kingsley , was victor of the open class . In addition to the best sporting title , Dory , another spaniel owned by Mrs. Wright , was also judged Best in Show .
Idiom: anything goes (used idiomatically: no)
Build up her strength . Build up her strength . But just anything cold anything goes down very easily . Aha . Just take it they do n't have any problem with it .
Idiom: across the board (used idiomatically: yes)
1 May : ' Labour 's ' future ' is borrowed and blue,'claims the Mail , reporting John Smith 's personal manifesto launch . Smith ' set about widening his appeal by borrowing a string of ideas from the Tory party . In a move more likely to divide the party than unite it , he hinted that the traditional socialist commitment to across - the - board state benefits might be ditched . ' The Star takes a similar line : Smith ' tore up the party 's election manifesto ' , but ' he was set to touch off a left - wing backlash by hijacking Tory policies . ' The Sun claims that the Stonebridge council estate in north London ' is Britain 's tinderbox where Los Angeles - style riots could explode at any time ' .
Idiom: take the plunge (used idiomatically: yes)
Paul Traynor is a freelance journalist with 25 years experience of walking and backpacking at home and abroad There can be few backpackers who have n't gazed dreamily at pictures of Europe 's great mountain ranges and wistfully thought ‘ That 's for me!’ In practice though only a minority actually take the plunge and turn armchair fantasy into reality . Many people are just plain scared off by the amount of organising a walking trip abroad suggests , not to mention the travel , the awesome scale of the mountains by British standards , and even the language barrier . The truth is it 's never been easier to pack your sack and experience at first hand the sensational scenery and classic challenges across the Channel .
Idiom: right as rain (used idiomatically: yes)
I was drunk , okay , but I was getting my second wind by now . That 's the thing about drink : some of us can take it , and some of us ca n't . Put another few down me and I 'll be as right as rain . I straightened my tie and guided my hair back with my hands . I rang the bell — a good long ring .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: yes)
Likewise Danby , in a debate in the House of Lords over Comprehension and Toleration in the spring of 1689 , said " That at the beginning of this Revolution only Church of England men were Ingaged in it " , although " now he perceived other persons fell in with it " . The second half of Danby 's remarks alludes to the revived party tensions which were already becoming apparent in the early months of 1689 , especially over the religious issue . By early 1690 such tensions had again come to a head . The Parliamentary elections of the spring proved to be bitterly contentious , and were fought largely on the old party lines , centring around the issues of Dissent and/or loyalty to the new regime . The Anglican clergy campaigned actively on behalf of Tory candidates , denouncing their Whig rivals as enemies to the Church and State .
Idiom: in the club (used idiomatically: yes)
The return journey was made without stopping at Yakutsk ; it proved a dull uneventful day with nothing to do but watch the undulating Siberian tundra drift past beneath us . Much as I had enjoyed ' my Soviet adventure ' it was good to be back in an English - speaking land again . Major Hal , who met us on arrival , insisted that I had qualified for membership in the ' Short - Snorters ' Club ' . He produced a U.S. dollar bill , took a Canadian dollar from me and a Russian five - rouble note , stuck them together end to end , had the group sign them , and dubbed me a ' short - snorter ' . I still carry my ' short - snorter ' in my wallet !
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
It would be surprising if benchmarking attracts as much media attention in five years ' time as it does now . But it is undoubtedly a useful management tool and , in a competitive economy , it always will be . The fuss will subside and the bandwagon will grind to a halt , but the practice will remain . And if your company is n't benchmarking yet , it probably should be . Unless you also find out how it is that other companies are beating your performance , you may not feel much the wiser