Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: up the river (used idiomatically: yes)
Within his framework , pollution , which might be considered a cost imposed on society but not paid for by the company creating the pollution , results from a deficient system of property rights . If the ownership of rivers and lakes were as well de fined as houses and factories , then the law of tort and contract would ensure that their owners were in a position to take legal action against any company which pumped effluent into them . But what would happen if the companies concerned bought up the rivers and lakes ? Assume for example that Ford and General Motors between them are in a position to buy up the Great Lakes and pollute them as much as they desire in order to reduce the costs against such an action . A libertarian would have no objection to such a course of action .
Idiom: hum and haw (used idiomatically: yes)
And I started another one and I said no I wo n't be able to this and got back to the other one and did the other one .. And I remember once we had that was we had accountancy and we have a year to pick that one . We had to have solved so much problems and I just this way and I just would n't have it you know it 's just impossible it 's impossible and I hummed and hawed which way and hummed and hawed which way . In the end it must have been the right one because I was the best of all and I you know until five minutes before everything finished I just could n't make up my mind Hmm hmm
Idiom: down the road (used idiomatically: yes)
Slowly , the train began to move . Kiah ran to the taxi and jumped in . Then he drove the taxi fast down the road . The taxi driver saw him and ran after him . The train began to move faster .
Idiom: on the square (used idiomatically: no)
Erm Dee . Dee , if you land on any my yellow squares Is that one colour you 've quoted or or you No he do , well he he came while we were
Idiom: state of the art (used idiomatically: yes)
Both offer a full range of state - of - the - art facilities for treating heart complaints , including surgery and heart or heart / lung transplantation .
Idiom: come to grips with (used idiomatically: yes)
But it also offered other advantages — protection of British jobs against cheap foreign imports , and an inflow of customs duties to the Treasury which could be used to pay for the escalating costs of both armaments and social reforms . As Chamberlain 's doctrines swept the Tory rank and file , liberal pacifists feared that Tariff Reform would provide the new imperialism with a level of popular appeal that would make it unstoppable . It was J. A. Hobson who made the most influential and original attempt to come to grips with the nature of the new imperialism . Born into a provincial Liberal family in 1858 , Hobson developed unorthodox views which prevented him from securing an academic career in his chosen field of economics . His sin , anticipating Keynes , was to question the value of limitless saving .
Idiom: get the picture (used idiomatically: yes)
How I had gloriously saved his son and heir . I was even glad now I 'd had trouble with the M-16 ; did n't want him thinking I was too handy with weapons . ' So he shot at you first ? ' the Colonel enquired , trying to get the whole picture straight to his satisfaction . I did n't want him thinking I 'd only fired in self - defence . I explained how I 'd attempted to fire at the Corporal as Kaptan lay on the ground and how the gun had malfunctioned ; it would be more accurate to say I 'd been first to aim but the Corporal had got his shots off first .
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: yes)
In all these methods , care has to be taken with the preparation of the sample , since ancient alloys were sometimes not well mixed . A more general problem results from the distortion of the nature of the alloy on the edge of the coin through the natural processes of corrosion and surface - enrichment . As a consequence it is essential to abrade the surface of a coin ( on its edge ) , or alternatively to drill a sample from its centre ( typically using a 1- or o.5-mm drill from the edge of the coin ) . Whatever method is used , however , information about the alloy can help with its classification in cases where significant differences in alloy can be demonstrated . For example , the Roman Emperor Domitian improved the fineness of the silver denarius from 91 per cent to 98 per cent between AD82 and 85 .
Idiom: in the driving seat (used idiomatically: yes)
With a snarl , a small Peugeot rounded the corner and headed towards her . Sabine pinned on a polite smile , and aimed it straight at the oncoming vehicle 's windscreen . Then , just as if the world had frozen and stopped for a moment , she saw the woman in the driving seat , face white , eyes glassy with shock , the mouth stretched in a grimace which looked like terror . Sabine cried out in horror as the Peugeot swerved crazily , and plunged off the road . There was the sound of crunching metal as it hit one of the trees a glancing blow and came to a rocking halt .
Idiom: cook the books (used idiomatically: yes)
For the kids today , the people we used to snigger at are role models , swashbuckling marauders sailing the seas of high finance , corporate raiders whose motto is ‘ Get in , get out , get rich’ . Dennis Parsons was an accountant of the new ‘ creative’ variety , for whom the firm 's actual turnover represents only the original idea on which the completed tax return is based . When it came to cooking the books , Dennis was in the Raymond Blanc class . Socially , though , he and Karen , who taught part - time at a girls ' school in Headington , were both from a lower - middle - class , comp / tech background , and it may not have been only the fearsome price of property in the North Oxford heartlands which had put them off moving there . Even after five years they were finding it a bit difficult in Oxford , you see , a bit sticky .
Idiom: sick and tired (used idiomatically: yes)
La , Joy ! You 've got yourself a page full of lines . I 'm sick and tired of these people shouting out ! Choose a proper one and hand it in by one fifty , today . So you can do it in your lunch hour .
Idiom: have a ball (used idiomatically: no)
‘ It was all very emotional and I did n't handle it well at all . ’ Ripley 's failure was part of a team malfunction that left Blackburn beaten for the first time away from home in the League . They gave the ball away far too much in a bad spell after half-time and were destroyed by John Hendrie 's 15-minute hat-trick . It made five goals in nine League games for the 29-year-old Scot and earned high praise from Lawrence . ‘ He can become our Gordon Strachan over the next few years , ’ said the Boro manager .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
Weather and sea conditions during the service were extremely hazardous , demanding absolute concentration to maintain control of the lifeboat . The divisional inspector of lifeboats for Scotland South , Tony Course , said : ‘ The courage displayed in his willingness to undertake the dangerous passage is exemplary , and the skill and determination of all crew members during this arduous service is a lifeboat with a partially exposed wheelhouse are worthy of the highest praise.’ Soon after 1600 on Sunday 6 October 1990 a dramatic change in weather conditions led to hurricane - force northerly winds along the east coast of Scotland , and it soon became clear to Coastguards that a number of divers had been caught at sea . Three lifeboats were alerted , Dunbar , St Abbs and Eyemouth . The winds were far in excess of the launching limitations for St Abbs ' rigid inflatable , but the 48 ft 6 in Solent class lifeboat Hugh William Viscount Gough at Dunbar was launched at 1644 and Eyemouth at 1649 .
Idiom: to the hilt (used idiomatically: yes)
You die a thousand casual deaths — with none of that intensity which squeezes out life … and no blood runs cold anywhere . Because even as you die you know that you will come back in a different hat . But no one gets up after death — there is no applause — there is only silence and some second - hand clothes , and that 's — death —(And he pushes the blade in up to the hilt . The PLAYER stands with huge , terrible eyes , clutches at the wound as the blade withdraws : he makes small weeping sounds and falls to his knees , and then right down : While he is dying , GUIL , nervous , high , almost hysterical , wheels on the TRAGEDIANS ) If we have a destiny , then so had he — and if this is ours , then that was his — and if there are no explanation for us , then let there be none for him ( The TRAGEDIANS watch the PLAYER die : they watch with some interest . The PLAYER finally lies still .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
Stung by these allegations , the Labour Party reappraised its strategy . In the short run it attempted to detach itself from its ' extremist ' wing — more properly , those sections of the Labour Party which the right - wing popular press considered extreme — on the grounds that the ' loony left'cost it electoral votes . In the long run it was to create a new ' image ' of itself which was purposely devoid of politics , as well as left - wing politics . The Labour Party 's obsession with distancing itself from anything which the right - wing media could pick up and exploit as ' extremist ' is well described by Wainwright in her account of a Labour Party election rally . The ( significantly titled ) Labour Family Fun Day in Islington , London — an American - style political convention with a well staged show — was a well policed event .
Idiom: over the moon (used idiomatically: yes)
Dazzling , hug ? What with the excellent Emlyn Hughes International Soccer on the Megatape , and ripping round - up of every footy game released for the C64 ( not to mention a clutch of spiffing soccer videos to give away ) , we think we can be excused the odd cry of ‘ Gooooaaaaa!’ though . Yes , you 've certainly scored a winner this month , folks , I hope you 're over the moon about it ! The issue 's not totally devoted to scorching soccer action however ( huge sighs of relief from the two - left - feet brigade ) , as there are more than enough non - sporty releases coming out to keep any forty - fags - a - day fan happy . From arcade games to text adventures and back again — via a handful of sims and the odd platform caper — we 've got the lot between these hallowed covers .
Idiom: carry the day (used idiomatically: yes)
There should be freedom of choice Voice over The anti Hunt campaigners believe they have enough to carry the day tomorrow . They 're hoping that the video will carry them even further … to Parliament … where they hope to lobby MPs to legislate against hunting . The Government has ruled out an immediate ban on birthing pools in hospitals , despite the deaths of two babies born underwater .
Idiom: with a vengeance (used idiomatically: yes)
PUBLIC NME It 's that time of year again . Party Fever hits Public NME with a vengeance . This week , in the sad aftermath of one party too many , it 's a rather tired and emotional litany of crimes and misdemeanours that we have to recount for your delectation . Oh , it 's a dirty job … but someone 's got to do it !
Idiom: take heart (used idiomatically: yes)
Let me tell you about the Barking women most of them are dead , some of them are working for local authority . She said to me , Phil , they ca n't my spirit , but they really took the heart out of me . Well what about this union are we gon na let it take the heart out of us ? For Christ 's sake , we got ta do something have n't we ? John came down to Barking , he was n't a General Secretary he was just an officer , and I remember cos I 've got a good memory John what you said to me .
Idiom: go it alone (used idiomatically: yes)
It is vital to remember how important and unique is the protection of our alliance with the United States — and with Canada , too , whose defence training facilities are essential for our country . I mean more than the nuclear umbrella and the massive and rapid reinforcement capability that America offers within a NATO structure . It is , as we saw clearly during the Gulf war , the very sophistication of America 's procurement and the new technology of weaponry that demand that we count the Americans as friends and allies rather than trying to go it alone . I believe that I speak for many others , both in my party and outside it , who want to see a successful conclusion at Maastricht and who want political and economic union in Europe to go forward . Ministers are right to protect our national interest at every stage .
Idiom: see the light (used idiomatically: no)
He was in the act of locking the bureau flap when he said : ‘ Miss Glynn , what made you go into your brother 's office this morning when you came down , as you say , to make yourself a cup of tea?’ She was terse . ‘ I told you ; I saw the light.’ ‘ No.’ ‘ I beg your pardon!’
Idiom: good riddance (used idiomatically: yes)
I may not like this , but I wo n't know unless I try it first . I do n't need their approval . If they ca n't accept me as I am , good riddance . It 's nice to amuse people . If I do this what is the worst thing that could happen to me ?
Idiom: face to face (used idiomatically: yes)
The best times to use the personal the actual personal touch in talking to each other personal communication is when you give reward or praise matters of importance and urgency matters of complexity unpleasant matters personal matters or things like verbal warnings . Okay . Doing things communicating with people verbally can mean a lot more now sometimes with a lot of bureaucracy you can get sucked in to putting everything down on paper but it does n't mean as much as it does when it 's face to face communication . The strengths of using written communication is that it 's on paper there 's a record , of course that can be a weakness sometimes , be careful what you put down , it means more you get hold of more than one person you 've said it to more than one person who can be quite difficult to get hold of . Okay .
Idiom: take the piss (used idiomatically: yes)
She 's got some death wish . I reckon Marie - Anne 's the nicest girl he 's ever fancied . He 's got , he 's got , he 's got a death wish on He must be takes the piss and I go . He goes shut up , you taking the piss out of me . I do n't take the piss out of him he goes turns all silent , he goes like
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: yes)
Presentations will concentrate on growing , harvesting , storage and feeding as well as the economics of the crop as a bulk feed , concentrate substitute and profit - improver . Tucking into Puffin … harvest gets under way late last week on limestone brach at L W van Geest 's Crossroads Farm , Empingham , near Stanford , Lincs . With a moisture content of 14.5 % , the grain went straight to the merchant . Farm manager Robert Love said it was an unusually early start . ( Harvest round - up — page 44 ) .
Idiom: to the max (used idiomatically: yes)
And then along came an old battered AC30 , which Lance , my guitar tech , gave to me . He said , ' Man , look , this is the amp , ' and from that point on I did n't look back . ' I drive them really hard , to the absolute max . But here 's another key tip for those Vox users out there : I only use one channel . The reason why a lot of Vox amplifiers blow up is because , when you turn the amplifier on , all the preamp tubes and power tubes are powered up , but if you 're only going to use one channel , plug the guitar in that one and take out the valves that you do n't use from the other channels , so the amp is n't quite as hot .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: yes)
ADRIAN MAGUIRE , who partnered Halkopous to a tremendously impressive victory at Cheltenham on Saturday , will retain the ride on the new Champion Hurdle favourite . Halkopous stormed to the head of the Champion market at 5-1 with Coral following his 10-length success from Granville Again , with Morley Street back in third . And , although Steve Smith Eccles partnered Halkopous to a smooth victory at Newcastle , trainer Mark Tompkins yesterday confirmed that Maguire will be on board when Halkopous attempts to further his reputation in the Irish Champion at Leopardstown in January and at the Festival . Smith Eccles , sidelined by a whip-ban on Saturday , will ride Tompkins 's other Champion contender Staunch Friend . ‘ Adrian did well on Halkopous and , assuming he is available , he will ride him , ’ Tompkins said .
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: yes)
Baldwin was uneasy about the reaction to the so - called pact , and became more so as a violent storm of influential criticism burst over his head , The editor of The Times , most of the bishops ( even Lang of Canterbury ) , and the whole of the liberal establishment were horrified at the sell - out . But there is no evidence that Baldwin rejected the agreement on its own merits . At Cabinets on 9 , 10 and 11 December he cautiously defended it on the ground that Hoare must have known more than they did , and defended also the continuation of Hoare 's holiday , although this by then had become more of a matter of nursing than of recreation , for he had fallen on the ice and broken his nose in two places . Baldwin had also to defend the pact in the House of Commons on 10 December . It was one of the worst - judged and least successful speeches of his life .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: yes)
Ah right . Okay . It 's only a teacup in that old grey bag from the caravan , that 's all the I 'll move that and that . Bye bye .
Idiom: take it or leave it (used idiomatically: yes)
In one sentence Jean - Claude was trying to impress M. Lévy and insult my husband . I felt uncomfortable , and noticed that M. Lévy looked at me sympathetically . ' Take it or leave it ! ' he said , shrugging his shoulders and turning his back . ' Another late famille rose vase , another Bukharan rug — what 's it to me ? ' I felt uneasy and exposed as we emerged into the street and I watched Jean - Claude pack the money into his inside pocket .
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: no)
It was the last thing I needed to know as I prayed it would miss us . And luckily it did . We were camped on ice and as usual my boots had frozen inside the tent . When we had knocked against the nylon walls as we got up , snowflakes dropped on us , while above in a cave our six Zanskari porters and Dorje , our Ladakhi cook , were already crouched around a wood fire . Never before had I slept on a river .
Idiom: at the drop of a hat (used idiomatically: yes)
But now he 's showing definite signs of not thinking you are made of wood I 'm quite happy to stop taking violent umbrage and to start liking him . I 'll tell you this , I 've always had to like him on the job . I like the way he does n't reach for his knife at the drop of a hat , and the way he does n't give a damn about his statistics . Remember our last S.S.O. ? When I was in Stanley last year , even though I was only in my second year , I knew as well as all the other Stanley staff that if we had in a dodgy case the S.S.O. would fix things so that someone else operated on him .
Idiom: collect dust (used idiomatically: no)
If they are extensively sheared or cold - worked , however , there is some improvement in shear strength , though not nearly up to the theoretical value . Hammering a metal to harden it is not uncommon : this was the way of hardening the edges of copper and bronze weapons and the old clockmakers always hammered their brass gear - wheels . ( If one refrains from oiling the gear teeth of a grandfather clock , the teeth will not only not collect the dust and so not grind each other away , but also become harder and more polished as times goes on and so last virtually for ever . ) Until about 1934 the Establishment explanation of these phenomena was remarkably unconvincing and seems to have reflected mainly a desire not to be asked embarrassing questions . ' Slip is due to little bits of crystal getting loose and acting as roller bearings between the layers .
Idiom: in the same breath (used idiomatically: yes)
Of course , the real reason is that 900 of his constituents work at Rothmans and he fears for his majority but he ca n't bring himself actually to say so . Labour 's Alan Milburn is no better . He manages to back the calls for a ban on advertising and in the same breath say this will not harm the local Rothmans factories . The people who know about the potential effect of a blanket ban are the tobacco manufacturers and they are not so sanguine about the prospect , threatening to pull their plants out of Britain if the ban comes into force . Clearly , a ban would affect sales , particularly among the susceptible young , and that is why it is proposed .
Idiom: at the end of the day (used idiomatically: yes)
A similar schism has emerged in the education welfare service between those who favour sanctions and those who prefer a more supportive role by EWOs . Going to law in truancy cases is undoubtedly the ‘ easier’ option , and accords with the prevalent notion in child law of parental responsibility . For this reason , amongst others , it may be anticipated that many parents of children who truant will , at the end of the day , continue to be dealt with in punitive fashion . This is unfortunate , for there is evidence that much more effective methods of tackling the problem can be adopted , without necessarily undermining in any way the principle of parental responsibility . RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS
Idiom: fit like a glove (used idiomatically: no)
But what had really struck her in his remark was that word sophisticated . It was a word that , up until that moment , Ronni had never thought to associate with Guido . But now she suddenly realised it fitted him like a glove . Beneath that wild , impulsive exterior lurked as sophisticated a character as she was ever likely to encounter . She found that realisation deeply intriguing .
Idiom: in the works (used idiomatically: no)
We will ensure that all 14–19 year olds have a personal tutor and careers advice , helping them build the foundations for personal fulfilment and success . Broaden post-16 education . We will give all 16–19 year olds in work the equivalent of at least two days a week education or training . Courses will be selected by both the employer and the individual and will be accredited as part of our new 14–19 system . Those studying full time will study up to three major and two subsidiary subjects , adding work experience , parenting and citizenship to build a baccalaureate - style programme .
Idiom: pack a punch (used idiomatically: yes)
No longer is it the slow , old relative of a young family of quick and strong cars . It may have been ignored since 1981 and left to make do with just two small engines ( and thus no way of cashing in on the ever - increasing popularity of the hot supermini in Britain ) but all that 's changed now . Heading the attack by the restyled and mechanically tweaked Polos is the supercharged G40 packing a 113bhp punch aimed squarely at the Peugeot 205GTi 's jaw . And if it really will do 122 mph and manage 0–62 mph in 8.6 secs , it 's going to hurt . But from November until the G40 arrives here next May , performance devotees will have the 75bhp Polo GT to sample .
Idiom: to the bone (used idiomatically: yes)
Larger species are usually stripped of their flesh , so that bones and feathers are not ingested . The third collection came from one of the southern subspecies of European eagle owl , which is smaller and lighter in colour than the northern populations . The single small pellet collection came from the desert in Qatar ( Table 2.3 ) , and the analysis of bones from this desert variety shows remarkable similarity to the bone assemblage from Sweden despite the great difference in species composition and diversity of the prey . Great grey owl ( Strix nebulosa ) . The great grey owl is represented by a single small collection from Finland .