Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: have a heart (used idiomatically: no)
It is widespread to policemen and women in ‘ sandbag ’ areas like West Belfast that their typifications of Catholics draw a distinction between the majority who are decent and honest and who would have friendly contact with the police but for fear of the paramilitaries , and the small number of ‘ gangsters and criminals ’ who support or undertake attacks on the police . As we shall see , this typification is a resource used by policemen and women in several situations and for many different purposes , and it has clear relevance in explaining why community relations police in West Belfast retain their commitment despite the difficulties of their task and the restricted nature of their duties . All would be different , they believe , if the majority of decent and honest Catholics could escape the grip of fear , and they define the role of community relations police in West Belfast as attempting , in a small way , to loosen the Catholic community from the stranglehold of the paramilitaries , as the commentary on a police promotional video stated : ‘ The effort of trying to win the people 's minds and hearts away from terrorism is personified in the Community Relations Branch , whose members regularly attend meetings involving civilian bodies , public representatives , and discuss problems such as vandalism . ’ The reality , of course , does not accord with this gloss , but the commitment if not the viable programme exists . One of the more usual benefits of a Community Relations Unit in West Belfast is its discouragement of police misconceptions about Catholics .
Idiom: to say the least (used idiomatically: yes)
Had n't she cooked for herself and Harriet last Monday ? That was only a few short days ago but now seemed light years away . To produce the same lumpy cheese sauce dish would be morbid , to say the least , and not exactly a Sunday - lunch menu . Meredith was suddenly swept up in an insane desire to impress , well , produce something decent . A hunt through larder and freezer turned up frozen chicken Kiev .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: no)
A NEW ARCHBISHOP 'S PROBLEMS OF OBEDIENCE WHAT IS THE LAW ? Everything in Anselm 's life during the past thirty years had predisposed him to regard obedience as a fundamental rule of conduct for himself and others . But obedience to whom , and in what respect ? In the stormy sea of English affairs these were not easy questions to answer .
Idiom: sick as a parrot (used idiomatically: yes)
Thirty - nine years after Roy became a schoolboy football star on the front page of the then new comic , Tiger , he is finally bowing out of big time . ‘ He is about to suffer a tragic accident which will signal the end of his incredible , action - packed career as Britain 's greatest goal - scoring hero,’ said the Roy of the Rovers editor , Dave Hunt . ‘ You can definitely say he 's sick as a parrot — and so am I.’ Roy of the Rovers was started as a weekly comic in 1976 , when the character was at the height of his fame in the Tiger comic . Without him , Tiger itself went into decline and closed in the early 1980s .
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: yes)
On the day in question I attended at Buckingham Palace and was received by Lord Plunket , and to my delight also found Lady Susan Hussey , who was the Lady - in - Waiting and the wife of my old friend Duke Hussey . The two of them told me that no formalities were required , that I would simply be received in a small private room , and that there would even be the possibility that I would be given a glass of sherry — which presented some difficulty since I am teetotal . In the event I was shown into a small room with Her Majesty , where we sat together for some twenty minutes chatting amiably about almost anything under the sun . It was a tremendous privilege , and compared to lining up with hundreds of others in order to receive some trivial award like a knighthood , the conferment of the CH stands out as something of special quality and considerable pleasure . In general it would be incongruous , having myself been highly honoured , to express any criticism of the honours system , but in my view its main vice has been the determination of unsuccessful candidates to receive an award .
Idiom: call the tune (used idiomatically: yes)
A line of the malabars , named after the Indian immigrants who had brought them to the colony , had been drawn up under the trees in the square outside the Continental Palace Hotel when they emerged to go to Cholon with Jacques and Paul Devraux to buy the last of their hunting supplies . On learning that the French called them disparagingly " boites d'allumettes " — matchboxes and that they were usually only used by poor Annamese , the senator had suddenly elected to ride in one with his sons and meet the Frenchman at the market . " I 'm saying this , Chuck , to remind you that it 's the rich and powerful nations that call the tune around the world , " continued the senator through a burgeoning cloud of pale blue cigar smoke . " And I thought that maybe a few bruises under the seat of your pants might make sure you remember something else that 's important . Wealth and power go hand in hand , at home too , as well as in the big wide world .
Idiom: in someone's pocket (used idiomatically: yes)
I wish , " Scrooge muttered , putting his hand in his pocket , and looking about him , after drying his eyes with his cuff : " but it 's too late now . "
Idiom: turn the screw (used idiomatically: yes)
Low settings can be used to cut metalwork or ceramic tiles , mid - range for plastics , and the ' E ' setting for woodwork . One of the best features of the machine in use is the ease with which the sole plate can be moved . When a cut has to extend up to a wall , for example , the sole plate can be moved back , out of the way , by turning just one central screw . Like all jigsaws , bevel cutting is undertaken by adjusting the sole plate from 0–45 ° . Unfortunately there is no guide fence , and no holes for a guide fence to be attached , and freehand bevelling is very awkward .
Idiom: on the rebound (used idiomatically: yes)
All those months , seeing her with Adrian . How it must have hurt him . Mind , he 'd crashed in on the situation pretty damn quickly , stepping in and being nice to her almost before she had dried her eyes , trying to get her on the rebound . I 'd do the same , though , she thought , so I 'm a fine one to talk . If Adrian were … deserted like that , I 'd rush to comfort him .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
I want to play a game where a noble , female , knight with the nickname of light - speed freely manipulates gravity .
Idiom: put a foot wrong (used idiomatically: yes)
And its sure to be a huge success — just look at what the press said last year ! ! ! " It 's Superb — Oh Yes It Is " " fun family night out " " The huge cast of Babes in the Wood did n't put a foot wrong ! " great costumes and animal masks " " a high standard of traditional entertainment "
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: no)
The video cassette is a compilation of approximately 10 news items selected from the output of the Central South news studio based in Abingdon . The Activity Book will provide activities based around these news items including reading material that parallels the TV items drawn from the local and national press . The TV items are being selected on the criteria of level of interest and validity as examples of authentic spoken English ie. we tend to go for ordinary people speaking to camera rather than voice over or straight presentation to camera . The author of the Activity Book is Tony Cornish ( who may be involving a writing partner whose name escapes me — Tim Blakey will confirm ) . Unfortunately , Central News has had to take second place to Project Video ( which we are shooting at the moment ) but we are aiming for October 1989 publication for Central News 1 ( video and book ) and January 1990 for Central News 2 ( video and book ) .
Idiom: full marks (used idiomatically: yes)
It is a £ 4bn to £ 5bn injection that should help . Simon Knapp , BZW MR Lamont gets full marks for presentation but overall it wo n't change a lot of projections for recovery . It will certainly stabilise affairs but will not galvanise the nation into action . Kevin Gardiner , Warburgs
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: yes)
Written some months before his arrests , this article details Rivero ~ Castañeda 's objections to the Castro regime . HAVANA : A man riding the Chinese - made Forever brand bicycle under the Caribbean sun after eating a single slice of bread , washed down with very bad coffee , finds it difficult to ponder America 's trade embargo against Cuba . Such a man has lunch on his mind - his and his family 's . For him , abstract thought is a luxury that requires time , information , and a reason to reflect on a subject that , at first sight , appears to be from another galaxy .
Idiom: under the microscope (used idiomatically: yes)
Fairy tales target for political puritans NOT even the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen are immune from political correctness . After focusing on nursery rhymes and Enid Blyton , the political puritans now have the legacy of the celebrated 19th century Danish storyteller under their microscope . ' We are experiencing the same sort of trend today as in Victorian times , when religious puritanism led to the editing out of potentially sexual and embarrassing aspects of Andersen 's tales , ' said Professor Glyn Jones . Professor Jones , a professor of Scandinavian Studies at East Anglia University , added : ' Today 's political , religious and racial correctness not only purges the idiosyncrasies and quirkiness from Andersen 's language .
Idiom: on the house (used idiomatically: yes)
Donald nodded . He was quiet to begin with , he just stayed in his room . For days this hush lay on the house like dust . But a change was in the air , a season was drawing to a close . Twilight left , as if he could smell the storm coming .
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: yes)
More ominously , some are now asking whether the days are numbered for the last of the Edwardian motor cars — Rolls - Royce was founded in Manchester in 1904 — and whether cars of this size , weight and cost can really be justified in an era of increased social awareness and growing environmental concerns . However , both Sir David Plastow , the Vickers chairman , and Peter Ward , the Rolls - Royce Motors chairman and chief executive , insist that the gloom has been overdone and that structural changes introduced in the last year have made the company leaner and more efficient . The introduction of Japanese - style working practices at Crewe is said to have brought the break - even point down from sales of about 2,700 cars a year to about 2,000 . Even so , some analysts question whether the company can finance a new model costing , perhaps , £ 250 million without outside help . Sir David , who piloted Rolls - Royce Motors back to success after the ‘ 71 crash and who is due to retire next month , says : ‘ It depends how we do it — there are so many ways of developing a new Rolls - Royce .
Idiom: go downhill (used idiomatically: yes)
Listening to the personal stories of the half - dozen Easterhouse people gathered in the hall — stories of drug addiction , crime , alcoholism , unemployment , poverty — it is hard to ignore his appeal . But , listening to what they are actually doing , another story emerges — one of determination , vigour , single - mindedness , struggle and enterprise . Carol tells of a life going downhill after she became pregnant at 14 , of a descent into doctors ' prescriptions ( ‘ Largactil , Valium , you name it … I was terrible on drugs , shouting , swearing … ‘ ) , of her daughter being taken into care and being kept there when she come out of hospital after getting off the doctors’ drugs . Now back with her daughter , with a husband and a sparkling bright wee boy , she says that the social workers still think of her as she was .
Idiom: down and out (used idiomatically: yes)
BOB Geldof has been voted the worst dressed celebrity for the second year running by youngsters between 11 and 18 in a Lloyds Bank survey . Princess Diana came top . Down and out LOVESICK Andrew Blacklock , 30 , was jailed for 10 years after admitting armed robbery at a bank in Maida Vale , London , because he needed cash to get married in Australia . Gary swops factory floor for the Bar
Idiom: lift a finger (used idiomatically: no)
I was n't even here when he brought you in . They 'd already started towering you . ' He slipped one hand forward to restrain hers even before she 'd started to lift panicked fingers to her scalp . ' Do n't touch it — it 'd hurt even worse . ' Jezrael looked at him groggily , comprehension bringing fear .
Idiom: get to grips with (used idiomatically: yes)
But if you overwrite the first twenty factory patches , there 's a procedure allowing you to call them up again anyway ( as per most digital devices ) , so all 's not lost . You can also dump your data ( your favourite patches , etc . ) to computer disk , so that in the event of disaster the TriAxis can be completely reloaded with them . It 's all pretty standard stuff for the digitally - minded , and easy to get to grips with for the novice . SOUNDS Linking the TriAxis up to a Boogie Fifty / Fifty power amp and ART Multiverb Alpha to build a simple MIDI rig ( the same setup as for last month 's Marshall JMP-1 review ) , I set about organising myself a set of sounds .
Idiom: win the day (used idiomatically: yes)
During this time , one senior auction house official noted that ‘ Each house has promised the heirs so much : advances , separate hard - bound catalogue , etc , that no matter which auction house gets it , it is bound to lose money on the sale’ . For a time it seemed that Christie 's had the inside track — they offered the Sharp apartment for sale in the late autumn of 1992 . But Sotheby 's eventually won the day , causing an annoyed Christie 's to tip off The New York Times before Sotheby 's could proudly announce their coup . Caught unprepared , Sotheby 's admit that , while they have the Sharp collection , they are still not sure when it will be sold ( most probably in January 1994 ) and more importantly , what exactly will be sold . This leaves the Metropolitan with one last hope to secure some of the most urgently needed Sharp items before their dispersal , either by private purchase or by gift .
Idiom: under the weather (used idiomatically: yes)
Other people 's reaction to hearing loss may be less than encouraging , particularly when they are unimaginative and unable to grasp the true facts . Your own ability will vary . You will have off days when you are tired or a bit under the weather . You are bound to meet some people and some situations which preclude speechreading . It is unfortunate , but it is not your fault .
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: yes)
My brother walked . I was carried at a smooth lope by Trigger , or sometimes Silver . I sat snug in the tooled leather saddle , the reins lying easily in one hand . Trigger , the palomino , was obedient to the slightest pressure . Thus the magic lasted , and always lasts if the images on the screen take possession .
Idiom: let someone down gently (used idiomatically: yes)
She 's a good friend of mine and she likes you a lot , so try to let her down gently .
Idiom: rise to the occasion (used idiomatically: yes)
Changes have also brought about better opportunities and more varieties of job with greater interest and challenge . This high note was sustained as Maurice later compered a traditionally Amicable evening . Sue Veasey , Steven Leiper , Shirley Cooke and Anne Tait rose to the occasion with excellent speeches to round off a very enjoyable event . Have you ever felt like a Tennis Ball ? This was my distinct feeling when nervously trying to set up my first foray into journalism .
Idiom: go down like a lead balloon (used idiomatically: yes)
Bill Biddlecomb is the man who deserves a name check for organising the skating side of things there . He got together a serious amount of cash and called a meeting with the skaters to ask them what they wanted ; 3 skaters turned up . Normally following that kind of response the ramp idea would go down like a lead balloon . But no , Bill then gave them another chance and another meeting , this time 120 skaters went along , and they came up with the following ramps : 20 ft wide 6 ft tall spine ramp , with the spine itself being 12 ft wide [ the other 8 ft bit being platform ] , and another 12 ft wide mini ramp , plus street stuff like fun boxes etc . It 's complete now , so why not plan a trip to the Fort Region Leisure Centre in Jersey this year ?
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: no)
After she left the kitchen , Nicandra delayed her disappointing return to Aunt Tossie by a wander in the lower regions where the doors to other domestic businesses opened out of the kitchen passages . She could hear Breda , the under - housemaid , Lizzie 's supplementary , and Peggy , Mrs Geary 's slave , murmuring and giggling in the laundry — their jokes were beyond her . As well as that , the laundry was a steamy , rather smelly place where sheets were stewed in the boiler and then hand - scrubbed on a ridged board and further rinsed and processed before they progressed in a wooden tub , a girl at each handle , to hang under the sun or the rain in their private drying ground , screened by laurel and flowering currant from the sensitive eyes of the gentry . The dark passage - ways of the basement had other doors with interests behind them . The boot - and - brushing room , where Twomey did the hunting clothes and Dada 's clothes and boots and shoes ; a lesser room for lamps and other people 's boots and shoes .
Idiom: pick up the pieces (used idiomatically: yes)
He heard the girl run back down the steps and her footsteps faded in the distance . He locked the door and went back to the carrel . Athelstan picked up the piece of parchment and the candle , scrutinising what he had written . He shook his head . He was too tired for work but felt he must continue otherwise he would think back to Cranston 's words about Benedicta .
Idiom: on the cards (used idiomatically: yes)
then you went and forgot did n't ya ? yeah Should of had it on the card and tucked it in aye your pocket
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
And , if the positions were reversed and we lived in a black - dominated society … I think the white kid would still get through ! The point is that black people are not only at a disadvantage in the job market on account of their colour , they also perceive sharply that this is so and , despite Johnson 's tongue - in - cheek addendum , the consciousness of belonging to a group which feels itself to be at a disadvantage is clear enough . Black kids , at a stage during their latter secondary - school years , begin to feel different because of their blackness . It may be a gradual , one might say glacial , movement of perception , piecing together items of experience which collectively form an awareness that colour places a black person at a disadvantage .
Idiom: bread and circuses (used idiomatically: yes)
FORBES , the American business magazine has published its table of top - earning show - business stars , which reveals that , for the second year running , Michael Jackson is the world 's highest - paid entertainer . Last year he took home something in the region of $ 60 million : this year he will have to find room under the bed for 65 . You would have thought this would be enough to keep him in bread and circus animals for the foreseeable future , but there are rumours that he intends to watch the money grow by buying out Jobete Music , publishers of the Motown catalogue — a snip at $ 175 million . Jackson already owns the rights to most of The Beatles ' songs and would , if successful , suddenly have shares in former label - mates Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross . This is rather like growing up and buying your parents .
Idiom: Jekyll and Hyde (used idiomatically: yes)
Others , if they have had enough attention , will simply start to struggle and then leap down or move away . But there is another type of cat — more common than most people suppose — that has a more violent reaction to being over - petted . Described by one author as the Jekyll and Hyde Cat , this animal suddenly lashes out and attacks its friendly owner 's hand . The assault is so unexpected and apparently unjustified that it leaves the owner not only bleeding but also deeply perplexed . Before explaining the cause of this reaction , it helps to observe precisely what happens .
Idiom: head south (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You see , I know you . I know the sort of devious little things you get up to . So I got straight into the car and headed south , hoping I could reach Carlisle before the train did . I knew the train would n't stop again until it reached London.’ ‘ What a pity you made it.’
Idiom: out of the question (used idiomatically: yes)
His plan is difficult and expensive ; it is completely out of the question .
Idiom: at cross purposes (used idiomatically: yes)
I was acting like someone who puts on his Sunday best , lifts his nose in the air , and goes to worship feeling superior to those who are watching television or washing the car instead . Mick had disturbed me more than he knew . These two hundred and thirty miles on the road should have been a time for strengthening bonds and for unifying our resolve , but I felt continually at cross - purposes with him . The sermon did indeed make me feel superior : ‘ I know what the preacher means by ‘ the concept of the body in Romans 12’ . Mick does n't .
Idiom: pissed off (used idiomatically: yes)
you know you might you might catch the same person twice they 've got to be on separate days they 'll be well pissed off Well , you will well annoyed
Idiom: keep your chin up (used idiomatically: yes)
' OK , OK , I 'm sorry . Look , I 've got to get back to some people I spoke to this morning . Keep your chin up , girl , we 're not lost yet . ' I smiled . ' A bit homeless maybe . '
Idiom: change hands (used idiomatically: yes)
Farmers ' fury at DoE land deal profits THE GOVERNMENT has sold land at 500 times the price it paid angry farmers when vesting for Ulster 's new city . The land on the outskirts of Portadown changed hands this week at £ 125,000 an acre , compared with the £ 250 an acre given to local farmers who did not want to sell . And furious farmers were powerless to do anything about the handsome profits their former land fetched for the Department of the Environment , who took it over in the mid-1960s . One ex - farmer told the Sunday Life .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: no)
Bella 's television blaring out . She tried the door . It was unlocked , so she went straight inside . It was no use waiting for Bella to answer her door : if it was one of her favourite programmes she would pretend not to hear the door bell . ‘ Here we are,’ gushed the presenter of Gardeners ' World , ‘ we 're in my very favourite corner of the estate now , with its magnificent , sweeping views down to the river.just look at this superb example of Metasequoiaglyptostroboides , or Dawn Redwood to give it its more familiar name , I do n't think I 've ever seen a better specimen anywhere .
Idiom: put your heads together (used idiomatically: no)
We have already observed that it is more difficult to speechread unless there is enough space between you and the speaker — eyes can not possibly focus on the whole face if it is only six inches away . At home you can arrange your seating accordingly , possibly placing some low barrier , such as a coffee table , between you and the speaker . He will be less easy to understand if you literally put your heads together . Hearing loss at work Some jobs will be affected more than others .