Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: jump the gun (used idiomatically: yes)
Alyssia felt her temper begin to fray . Just who did Piers Morrison think he was ? ‘ I think you 're jumping the gun a bit here,’ André volunteered awkwardly . ‘ Am I?’ He turned to her .
Idiom: keep the peace (used idiomatically: yes)
The Bosnian Serbs have changed their minds before and may again , focusing attention on NATO 's ambitious plan for UN blue helmets once more . Yet there is limit to the world 's patience , or so those wanting tougher measures hope . At Brussels , where America 's secretary of state , Warren Christopher , was on May 6th in urgent talks with NATO allies , the focus shifted abruptly once more from keeping peace to something starker . But what ? America , Britain and France do not see eye to eye .
Idiom: for good measure (used idiomatically: yes)
At least I know why now . Miss Russell had a morbid fear of sunlight fading carpets and furnishings , so the curtains were half drawn as usual . Sabine wrenched them apart , and opened the windows for good measure , letting the brightness of the June day flood into the room . Then she looked around her . It was like taking a step back into the past , and for a moment a little shiver ran down her spine .
Idiom: out of order (used idiomatically: yes)
There is an example of this in ‘ Fighting talk’ where the police are recorded as using the white boys ' own rules of territoriality as a device to keep them apart from blacks ( ‘ if you 're on your own territory we 'll nick the others , but if you 're outside , we 'll nick you ' ) . The boys are furious when the police break their own rules by arresting them for public order offences while they are fighting on their home ground . This puts the Law literally and metaphorically on the side of the blacks , who are also deemed ‘ out of order’ for having broken the rules of a fair fight . And this in turn mobilizes the forces of public propriety in the shape of community elders who want to ‘ clean up the estate’ and who willingly sign the petition to keep it as white as possible . The irony in the situation is that the real double standard involved in policing the area is not applied to white youth , but to their black counterparts .
Idiom: thin as a rake (used idiomatically: no)
As I was permanently hungry , he used to make enormous treacle puddings — it was the first time in my life I had heard of such a dish — and always made sure I got a big helping . He also gave me whole tins of peaches in syrup ; I ate so many that eventually I broke out in a painful rash . In spite of all this food I remained as thin as a rake , and was as hungry as ever . The British soldiers , both the officers and the rank and file , seemed to be very popular with the inhabitants of Verona . They formed clubs and held tea dances to which local girls were invited .
Idiom: fast and furious (used idiomatically: yes)
Rory did , but Rory was immensely happy to wait for her , to go along with any whim . She had seen his crazy house , and she had loved it . The drive from Dundalk was fast and furious , largely because Jessica was late . She had got stuck getting out of Belfast , and got lost trying to take a short cut round the traffic jam . On her way , out of shame that she would mess up the arrangements , she stopped at a small shop and got some fresh rolls and ham , some butter and some tins of Smithwicks bitter .
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
The FT - SE 100-Share Index moved lower in early trading , but was nearly 7 points higher on balance after the unemployment figures and the German interest rate cut , only to drift lower again in spite of a bright start to trading on Wall Street . The index closed 10.2 down on the day at 2,879.7 , with 705 million shares changing hands . Spring Ram more than halved to 63.5p after forecasting a 28 per cent drop in profits to £ 26 million , with 25 million shares changing hands when trading resumed after Tuesday 's suspension . Pension fund managers were again in search of high - yielding stocks to protect their incomes after the Budget changes . Riddell quits Capital House post
Idiom: turn the corner (used idiomatically: no)
' Michael Caine ' , although disguised , is an oblique look at the troubles in Northern Ireland , and ' Yesterday 's Men ' and ' Brand New Beat'chronicle a country slipping into darkness with nobody there to turn the lights back on . That was the trouble with Madness : they got serious . Having made their name as the most mischievous men in pop , their audience watched uneasily as Madness turned down the corners of their mouths . Their fourth album , Keep Moving , is one of the masterpieces of British rock in the Eighties but its downbeat tone and ominous tread destroyed their following . Mike Barson , the man who 'd given them most of their best tunes , quit the group , spent .
Idiom: make history (used idiomatically: yes)
Her winning time of 19:55 over the 5600 m course , ensured the 19-year - old Parkside runner a place in the six - woman team at the World Cross - Country Championships in Antwerp . Christie in with the in - crowd Zola … about to make history or just history ? FORUM READERS ' LETTERS
Idiom: argue the toss (used idiomatically: yes)
Two rivers ; spires ; belching towers of the bottle factories ; a web of streets scissored by the masts and sails of anchored vessels ; even the distant countryside . But for the present she was lost in the wonder of her changed fortune . A little scared , very curious , ravenously hungry and ready to argue the toss with anyone after being passed from person to person like so many yards of parcelled muslin . Miss Jarman was heaving herself out of the carriage with the help of the crabbed old driver ; marching up the steps and rapping on the front door shouting : ‘ Salt …
Idiom: put your foot in it (used idiomatically: yes)
Why ? Oh no Fred With your way you put your foot in it is n't it , oh yes perfectly harmless no malice meant there at all but you try and convince somebody of that . Fred it 's rude to keep reaching over the table for the mince pies , have n't you got a tongue in your head ?
Idiom: bear in mind (used idiomatically: yes)
But also , look as those er , those short answers , now it 's important that you answer the short answer questions well alright , because it 's , it 's a lot easier to get good marks on a short answer question , providing you do it well , than it is on a long answer question . Alright , erm , but most people do n't , do n't ans do n't answer short answer questions very well at all , and that 's why they get low , low marks for them . Always re bear in mind , that whenever you do a short answer question , right , you 've only got fifteen minutes to do it in . Right , there , there is n't a great deal that you can get in , in fifteen minutes . But what , what you must have , right , is a definition of erm , the er , sort of thing that you 're asked to write about .
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: yes)
I sat in church this morning and fairly boiled . Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thine name , thy kingdom come , thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven , give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil , for thine is the kingdom , the power and the glory for ever and ever amen . Well we 'll have hymn number twenty two in the red book Are you alright Catherine ? It is n't it 's Now Thank We All Our God .
Idiom: twist someone's arm (used idiomatically: no)
He started by sketching numerous frescoes and statuettes he found in the Hermitage Museum , Leningrad . From such ideas he formed dances which did away with pointes but retained much of the classical footwork which he co-ordinated with the less familiar action of the arms and hands . Thus the angular and straight lines drawn by the legs were also drawn simultaneously by the arms and hands , which were allowed to cross the centre line of the body , very often with a twist sideways at the waist . This made the dancers appear as if they were a moving frieze . Something that David Bintley was also to achieve later in his Sons of Horus ( 1985 ) .
Idiom: right as rain (used idiomatically: no)
I 'm anxious about Great Aunt Alicia . How has she been lately ? " " She was as right as rain two days ago , " Jenny said,"and she was well all winter . Even her rheumatism seems to have got better . " " You saw her two days ago ? "
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: yes)
Option contracts , however , tend to have thinner markets than futures contracts . This is partly due to the greater sophistication of the instruments , but it is also due to the variety of contracts brought about by the range of exercise prices , which adds an extra dimension to contract specification . Just as with futures , an over - the - counter market in non - traded options exists in parallel , and synergistically , with the exchange traded products . Banks play an important role in providing such tailor made contracts to their customers . But intermediaries are often not required at all .
Idiom: clear the decks (used idiomatically: yes)
He is our manager.’ When the hue and cry died down , there was nothing Charlton could do to prevent Lawrence taking on a new challenge . And Lawrence wasted no time responding to that challenge and clearing the decks at Ayresome Park . He asked transfer - listed players one question ‘ Do you want to stay or go?’ Any player not committed to the cause was soon on the way through the exit door .
Idiom: hear things (used idiomatically: yes)
' I can hear the Ship . ' Masklin listened as hard as he could . ' I ca n't hear a thing , ' he said . ' Not sound . Radio . '
Idiom: to the bone (used idiomatically: no)
Her owners run boarding kennels so the pig is perfectly at home with dogs . In fact she thinks she is one . She 's partial to a bone , or a even a bacon sandwich , and at feeding time she competes with the families puppies for food . But if your thinking having a pig in your living room could lead to some unusual smells — you 're wrong . She says that the pig is very clean … cleaner than dogs even .
Idiom: rock bottom (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ What 's it worth?’ ‘ Twenty quid a week’ , replied the South African . In the days of rock bottom underground pay , 20 was not to be sneezed at . Marcuson , thought Green , was obviously in his element , and while his own job might be more lowly , there were compensations , like Hanover Square parties , with stoned guests graffitiing the immaculate Jagger - financed walls . It was not to last .
Idiom: cut and thrust (used idiomatically: yes)
Amiss wondered how long he could last without murdering this old fool : the ffeatherstonehaugh crew were sparkling wits by comparison . He pushed his mobile tray away from him , mumbled non - committally , lay down and turned on his right side , determined not to be trapped again . The man on the right had been reading while the scintillating cut and thrust of Alf and Bert had dominated the ward : Amiss thought that a good sign . As he looked to be of West Indian extraction , Amiss thought they might have a sensible chat about cricket . ‘ What did you think of the Test series , then?’ he asked jovially .
Idiom: to boot (used idiomatically: no)
What 's happening ? ' she cried . ' Has he called here ? ' Fernando asked , a frown puckering his brow as he rounded the Mercedes to the boot and opened it wide . ' No , ' Ruth told him as she limped towards him . Quickly she explained about the phone call .
Idiom: on the shelf (used idiomatically: yes)
But She readers have already bought a product : the editorial content of their magazine . The editor and her senior staff must live or die by satisfying the consumer with the product they have to sell — one monthly mag — in order to ensure repeat sales . By cover presentation on the shelves , and by promotion and word of mouth , they must also increase circulation , thus improving the advertisers ' platform and , of course , profitability for both parties . You would think , therefore , that it would pay agencies to study assiduously not only the editorial content of the pages which are designed to appeal to their potential customers , but also the verbal and visual techniques employed to attract and keep them . Clearly , from a look at She , most of them have done no such thing .
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: no)
The ice - cold butt burned the skin of his palm like a flame . This time he was able to make his way up the side of the ditch without much difficulty . He peered over the top . The full bright moon and the reflection of the snow made a mockery of the night . The long line of hedge bordering the next field was a good fifty yards away .
Idiom: in a fog (used idiomatically: no)
Does that mean it was what she expected ? I suspect she 'd been following that fool of a carrier . ' ' In such a fog as that ? ' ' We , Your Excellency , are not the only ones who make sure we do n't lose the quarry once we have him in our sights . But the handing over of the letter was not something she necessarily expected , it was simply something she saw .
Idiom: come in from the cold (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ The Ballad of Billy O'Rourke’ ‘ There used to be totters,’ said Billy O'Rourke , With big smelly horses and that And my dad knew gypsies who smile when they talk And live by the tip of the hat.’ But nobody cared for the stones he told And he sat all alone of a night Until one day a traveller came in from the cold A sorry and miserable sight . To the traveller , said Bill , ‘ It would give you a thrill To hear all the tales of my youth Of days dead and gone But the memory lives on And I swear every word is the truth.’ Well the traveller grinned And Billy beginned To tell the most marvellous tales Of earthquakes and crimes And fabulous times And whole families swallowed by whales .
Idiom: count your blessings (used idiomatically: no)
As I have reminded groups before now , the reality of incarnation has been central to Catholic spirituality and practice ; that is not so true of other traditions . As one born a ' Cockney ' I can tell you of the great Catholic priests who lived among the poor of the East End of London — and loved them into the Kingdom of God . Like that lovely story about Brother Andrew among tramps and vagrants , leading the singing and picking fleas off his cassock as they sang quite innocently : ' Count your blessings , name them one by one ! ' Even if our ministries do not take that form of living as radically as that , incarnation does challenge each of us to apply the message of Christ . ' Connect , ' screams the gospel , ' do n't just talk about the faith , live it and die for it ! '
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Many of the young girls who are starving themselves have no idea what they are doing to their bodies . They think they can be thin for a few years and get away with it.’ Fire - bomb attack on ice - cream van By Denny Macgee THE CREW of a Glasgow ice - cream van escaped serious injury when their vehicle was fire - bombed as they served in a quiet street in the Ballieston area of the city .
Idiom: throw down the gauntlet (used idiomatically: yes)
Do you want me to apologise for picking up the gauntlet you threw down?’ Paige ground her teeth , grateful for the rush of anger . ‘ I did not throw down the gauntlet ! And the answer is still no.’ ‘ You 're not going to be sensible?’
Idiom: out of pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
The accent made it sound a strange new game . ' But I 've got to go now , ' the boy said , feeling the trunk pressing into his back again . The Italian took the tobacco tin out of the pocket of his grey - green uniform , smiling ingratiatingly . ' You wanta nice ring ? ' he asked , stepping closer , spreading his arms . Ready to bolt , the boy hesitated instead .
Idiom: pop the question (used idiomatically: yes)
Charivari Punch 's weekly guide to the arts , entertainment , media and more … Vox - popping the question It was the best excuse that had ever been offered to a radio reporter in search of an interview ; ‘ No , I 'm sorry , I ca n't speak to you . I think I 'm going to be sick.’
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: yes)
If that 's the case , I wonder just how many people write labels that no - one else can read . From the PC user 's point of view , neatly labelled disks can be a godsend , and utilities for producing such things did well a few years back . But if your need is for anything other than that , that is to say something a little more complex , then the functionality built into Designer Labels is probably powerful enough to do the trick for you . I have the feeling that those of you who would want to use the mailing label feature more than any other might find the built - in database a little feeble , but then the chances are that your main database will provide all the information you require for that kind of thing . And that 's my only other niggle , really .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: no)
They do n't have they life skills to be able to look after themselves . They find it very difficult to manage a budget . On the money that they 're on . They find it very difficult to cook for themselves , shop for themselves and generally look after themselves in all the ways that we would accept as being quite normal . Planners will today be told to see if they can find a way to close a vital Nottingham City Centre link road without causing major traffic problems .
Idiom: tie the knot (used idiomatically: yes)
You 're older than Harry , are n't you?’ ‘ Only by a year . But I 'm in no hurry to tie the knot . Apart from anything else , I 've not met a girl I 'd want to spend the rest of my life with — at least , not until I met you , and Harry 's pipped me to the post.’ They all laughed , although Aubrey added , ‘ Honestly , old chap , I 'm not joking .
Idiom: from scratch (used idiomatically: yes)
Has anyone ever told you about moving the decimal point ? See we 've done it all without decimal point on the calculator , and we never done . Right , so we need to really think about all this from scratch do n't you , mm , pity the others are n't here actually . Erm right , okay , I 'll tell you what , copy down onto there . Put , can you put a heading along there , decimals , decimals , if we can get you understanding this , you can help a few other people .
Idiom: over the top (used idiomatically: yes)
So when her car drew up outside the refuge house on Tuesday there was n't a soul around . With her were only her private secretary and the ever-present detective . Diana dashed to the front door wearing the kind of understated clothes appropriate for meeting women who are practically penniless — an ordinary black blazer over a plain white top and a black and white striped skirt . Sandra was waiting at the door . She asked : ‘ Would you like to come up to the top of the house , to my office ?
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
Unless the Queen stands down , he could be 70 before he is crowned king . — Mrs M. Arthur , Kingsbridge , Devon . GERMAN football legend Franz Beckenbauer must have headed the ball too many times to say he believes he was a flower in a previous life . Still I approve of his wish that the next time round he will become a woman so that he can bear children . MUM 'S HEARTACHE
Idiom: rule the roost (used idiomatically: yes)
Unfortunately , Fenella takes her duties terribly seriously and would have a minute by minute report of what Springsteen had been up to while I 'd been away . Lisabeth , on the other hand , regards anything male ( about 48 % of the population ) and anything which moves faster than she does ( the rest of the animal kingdom ) with deep suspicion , and the combination of her moaning and Fenella enthusing was too much for me . Springsteen was out but there were tell - tale signs that he 'd been ruling the roost and no evidence that he was pining for my return . There was a dish of cat food down for him , plus a dish of tuna fish chunks ( in soya oil as he likes to preserve his kittenish figure ) and a saucer of rapidly separating cream . He had a cat flap in the flat door if he wanted to get into the rest of the house and Fenella had thoughtfully left my kitchen window wide open so he could come and go that way via the flat roof of the kitchen extension next door .
Idiom: pull strings (used idiomatically: yes)
According to the usual precepts of cricket 's scriptwriting , Pakistan would now recover their poise , the match would be won without further wickets falling , and everybody would be left wondering what all the hubbub and expectancy had been about . But no . Although Pakistan inched forward in the eight overs following the welcome tea - break , England were pulling the strings . Sohail , on 29 , was let off by Botham at gully , shoulder - high off Lewis . That would have made it 45 for 5 .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: no)
CAMBRIDGE – As its army confronts , ever more bloodily , the Taliban in the Swat ~ Valley , Pakistan is fighting for its very soul . The army appears to be winning this time around , in marked contrast to its recent half - hearted confrontations with Taliban forces in neighboring tribal areas . For now , the Taliban are on the run , some with shaved beards and some in burqas , to avoid being recognized and thrashed . The reason is simple : increasingly , people across Pakistan support the army ’s action . This support persists despite the terrible humanitarian cost : more than 1.5~million internal refugees .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
The claim is sometimes made that the capacity of British industry to achieve higher absolute levels of investment has been weakened by declining rates of profit [ Flemming et al.,1976 ] . In addition , low profits might be assumed to have lowered expectations of future profits and hence weakened the incentive to invest — a factor shown by the Radcliffe Report ( 1959 ) to have been far more important in determining investment policy than the rate of interest . On the face of it gross profit rates showed a steady decline over the 1960s and a dramatic fall between 1970 and 1975 from 23 per cent to 13 percent ; if capital consumption is taken into account the fall was from 17 to 4 per cent . On a number of grounds , however , these statistics are misleading for private and , in particular , nationalised industry . The figures make no allowance for investment grants , special depreciation allowances , and accounting devices which were used to reap rewards in the form of capital gains ( which have been less highly taxed ) instead of trading profits [ King , 1975 ] .
Idiom: over my dead body (used idiomatically: yes)
Sorcerers and wizards , and a few necromancers as well , I should n't be surprised . One of them had the effrontery to bring a wraith back once . Over my dead body , I said . You take that hussy out of here , or you go through that door and do n't come back . Well , we could n't be having that sort of person in here .
Idiom: bar none (used idiomatically: yes)
Nasty feeling creeping up . Not for the first time was I confronted by the limitations of the mighty Talisman of Shag ; neither the giant oak doors of the western entrance , nor the south porch , nor any of the transept doorways yield to it . All exits from the Cathedral are guarded by massive iron locks , all reinforced by systems of bolts and rods and bars , none of which can be sprung from within ; a fact which had surprised , but not alarmed me , until now . Now my heart performed a little jig , impromptu . I sensed a shift in the cavity .