Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: in the red (used idiomatically: no)
If you achieved such a quantity of quality work in the theatre , they would be tipping you to lead the RSC . In television , it just slips quietly by , but we should hope that there will always be people to run the kind of BBC in which such drama — literate , socially sensitive and lovingly crafted — can be done . ‘ Should television be the voice of the party or the voice of the people ? ’ , asked a witness in Red Dynasty ( BBC 2 ) . The speaker was a Chinese television news producer , acknowledging a debate within her industry . A new kind of documentary was on offer for viewers in Beijing : populist , slightly Wilcocksy people shows .
Idiom: every last (used idiomatically: yes)
Then the moment was gone . Red ten . Graham 's back arched agonizingly and he used every last ounce of inner strength to keep himself from wrenching his hand off the pad . He caught a glimpse of Hendrique through the distorting haze of pain . Hendrique 's head was tilted back , his mouth open in a silent scream .
Idiom: act of God (used idiomatically: yes)
He told various parables to illustrate what the Kingdom of God is like : it is like a person discovering treasure in a field , so he sells everything he has and buys the field ; or like finding an extremely expensive piece of jewellery . The New Testament teaches us that God is present and active in this world through his Holy Spirit , who is able to enter the hearts of individuals , giving new qualities of life and understanding in a way which we can not fully grasp , though we can experience it . This is a miraculous and supernatural act of God . As subjects of the King we are to obey his laws , and his laws are spelt out in the Sermon on the Mount . They involve a life of self - denial and sacrifice .
Idiom: song and dance (used idiomatically: no)
The reason the plan went so sadly askew was the not - wholly - unexpected but extremely untimely death of Laura Stratton herself , though whether this was occasioned by her own complicity , excitement , remorse — whatever!— we shall never really know . The plan — a simple one — was for the Tongue to be stolen immediately after Laura had installed herself in her room at The Randolph . She would be sure to make such a song and dance about her aching feet that she would get right to the head of the queue for the room - key — well , apart from Mrs Roscoe , naturally!’ For the first time during Morse 's analysis , his audience was seen reluctantly to smile as it acknowledged the primacy of the perpetually belly - aching little lady from California . ‘ Once she had the key , and whilst her husband signed the formalities , she was to go up to her room , put the handbag containing the Tongue — and money , pearls , and so on— on a ledge as near as possible to a door which was going to be left deliberately ajar .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: yes)
The idea of this joint venture is to reduce overheads and the whole set - up is run by a staff of just seven . The savings are not just confined to sharing overheads like accommodation , services and phone system . Much of the Cromadex paint is manufactured at the Taubmans site in Perth , so lorries can bring house paints and Cromadex industrial coatings on the same delivery run . Often house paints need to be delivered to building sites so Taubmans and Cromadex products can also go out on the same vans . Although the sales staff operate independently their regular contact with each other has led to the swapping of leads .
Idiom: time will tell (used idiomatically: yes)
It is available in some countries including the UK . Used properly they are an effective barrier against HIV . However time will tell how easy and/or pleasant they are to use . Water - based lubricants , such as‘KY’ or ‘ Foreplay’ , should always be used for anal intercourse and for vaginal intercourse when necessary . Never use oil - based ones such as‘Vaseline’ , ‘ Nivea’ or massage oil , as they can rot the rubber .
Idiom: man and boy (used idiomatically: yes)
Very popular . The coach would leave the Dersingham Arms at about 1 pm . The village would be deserted of men and boys between 2 pm . and 6.’ ‘ Correct.’ ‘ Where did the car come from?’
Idiom: save the day (used idiomatically: yes)
Another technique they employ is throwing sand or dust into the snake 's face . Put under this pressure and without an isolated adversary on which to concentrate its lethal strike , the snake usually does its best to beat a rapid retreat . Again , safety in numbers saves the day for the prey species . Like small birds , small mammals may occasionally indulge in mobbing to rid themselves of a feared killer . Here , in the Kalahari , a group of meerkats is angrily seeing off a deadly yellow cobra .
Idiom: hold someone's hand (used idiomatically: yes)
The other diners were all henchmen of either the Prince or Lord Gaveston : clerks , household officials , captains from their mercenary retinues , and the occasional priest or almoner . He and Ranulf were ignored , which made him uneasy . A flourish of silver trumpets , their shrill fanfare stilling the chatter , and the Prince entered , holding Gaveston ' s hand . Both wore silver chaplets and were clothed from head to toe in robes of gold . Their appearance drew ‘ Oohs’ and ‘ Ahs’from the group of sycophants .
Idiom: cut and dried (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ You either tell your Service or you don't.’ She stood up , reaching for the desk lamp . ‘ You like your orders cut and dried . Well , I do n't blame you , after … All right : from here on you 're totally off the record .
Idiom: odd one out (used idiomatically: yes)
And six lots of nothing . None . So which is the odd one out there ? Oh the odd one is That come to a different answer from all the others .
Idiom: over the counter (used idiomatically: yes)
Hub Smith , manager of the Gosforth Fund , wishes to create an index future in smaller US companies . The S&P500 index , which covers most of the largest 500 firms quoted on the NYSE , accounts for roughly 80 % of the market value of all shares quoted on the NYSE . ( It will be assumed in this example that the S&P500 index covers only large shares quoted on the NYSE , although in actuality the S&P500 index includes some over - the - counter shares . ) The NYSE Composite index covers all shares ( about 1700 ) quoted on the NYSE . The current cost of one S&P500 index future is 360 × $ 500 = $ 180 000 , while one NYSE Composite index future costs 200 × $ 500 = $ 100 000 .
Idiom: come to mind (used idiomatically: yes)
The lines came from a play dimly remembered . It was a comedy which was said to have originated on Terra . Rostov had chosen the speech simply because it was the first thing which came to mind . He might as well have recited a passage from a Navy field manual . The purpose was to show that he too used spoken language and that it and Tarvarian were mutually incomprehensible .
Idiom: give someone the slip (used idiomatically: yes)
Free again BRIGHTNESS the beluga whale has been seen swimming happily in the Black Sea after escaping for the second time . Brightness became an international star when he gave Russian scientists the slip last September . Down and out in Beverly Hills THE property slump is leaving Hollywood stars hundreds of thousands of pounds out of pocket .
Idiom: hands down (used idiomatically: no)
When the abbot was found , he was forced to join them or face execution . He rode with them to London but the end result was the same : the monastery was ransacked and destroyed , and Adam Sedbergh was executed at Tyburn in 1537 . Mrs Harker , an old resident of the village and a member of the feast committee , told me that the tradition of burning Bartle has been handed down orally from one generation to the next . Her brother - in - law , Alan Harker senior , has been one of the makers and main carrier for many years . Deprived nowadays of their railway and most of the buses , the village school closed and the loss of even the village postman , the villagers are determined the feast will survive .
Idiom: muddy the waters (used idiomatically: yes)
The man behind the video and the Japanese public relations offensive in New York was Alan Macnow , long-time lobbyist for the Japan Whaling Association , and a familiar figure at IWC meetings . Even Macnow 's legendary skills , however , were unable to persuade any countries to co-sponsor the Japanese resolution . Nevertheless , the Macnow-inspired video did a sufficiently good job of muddying the waters to give the Japanese some hope of diverting the main thrust of the US/New Zealand resolution . After many long hours of negotiations between the key delegations , however , and increasing support among South American and African countries for a total ban on drift-nets , a compromise text was agreed which involved substantial concessions by Japan . The text which was finally agreed on 11 December 1989 provided for :
Idiom: turn a blind eye (used idiomatically: yes)
Beyond that objective , France seeks to protect its many nationals in the region ; maintain stability in the Sahel , where states are very weak ; and prevent Mali ’s transformation into a base of Islamist terrorism directed at Europe . A lot is at stake – all the more so because French intervention is likely to be extensive . While the Islamists have been temporarily defeated , they are well armed and receive supplies from Libya via Algeria , which has suppressed Islamists at home but seems to turn a blind eye to their transit through its territory . Moreover , the capabilities of the Malian army and those of other West ~ African countries that are supposed to join the operation are too weak to turn the tide . The United ~ States tried to train the Malian army , but failed miserably .
Idiom: tilt at windmills (used idiomatically: no)
The basic conceptual flaw , according to " Anglo - Saxon " politicians , lay in its anachronistic assumptions . It was based on a nostalgia for the epoch of " la grande nation " , impossible to recreate under the conditions of the twentieth century . De Gaulle was often depicted as a Don Quixote tilting at windmills or King Canute trying to turn back the waves , while the reality was that France was a middle - sized power with no prospect of returning to its Napoleonic glories . The multipolar system he aimed to create was viewed as another anachronism . In 1958 Harold Macmillan called him Rip Van Winkle , because he talked about the " Concert of Europe " and " seemed not to have quite realised what had happened to the world since the end of the Second War " .
Idiom: lay an egg (used idiomatically: yes)
These are laid in batches of several dozen and are then attached to submerged vegetation . Different species of frogs and toads deposit and distribute their eggs in different ways . Many frogs in the genus Rana produce large egg masses , whereas other species , like the spadefoot and many tree frogs , lay their eggs singly or in small groups , or in long strings , as in many other toads . Laying and distributing the eggs in small batches is a special adaptation to these hot desert conditions . Warm water holds less oxygen than cold water .
Idiom: in the flesh (used idiomatically: yes)
I just have n't seen him since … you know … and I started to wonder if he even got back.’ ‘ He got back . In fact , I just saw him in the flesh , bruised as that might be.’ ‘ Bruised?’ Charity asked weakly .
Idiom: across the board (used idiomatically: yes)
Okay , let 's let 's try and clarify a few points as we go along . The first thing you we do a range of policies and you 've picked one of our smaller ones . We do actually cover up to a thousand pounds parts and labour with a wide range of cover across the board . That really sort of I mean obviously depending on what you pay I mean the policies can vary from twenty five pounds up to four hundred pounds . Now obviously , depending on the premium that 's being paid , depends on a.
Idiom: run the gamut (used idiomatically: yes)
Together they comb through the writings of the two Victorians , and gradually the true facts of the romance are revealed . At the same time , the relationship between the two academics begins to progress in a similar direction . Subsidiary characters run the gamut of weird and wacky academics , familiar from a host of campus novels . The book reaches a melodramatic conclusion in a gale - tossed cemetery , where the final secret lies buried . THE POETRY Having invented two Victorian poets , Byatt also invents their poetry , about seventeen hundred lines of it , in fact , and about a hundred pages of letters and journals in mid - Victorianese .
Idiom: hit the jackpot (used idiomatically: yes)
Dream trips for winners THE two winners of round - the - world holidays in our exclusive Courtauld News competition are finalising plans for their dream trips in February . Don Smith , export manager at Courtaulds Coatings in Auckland , New Zealand , and Steven Sharpe , manger of the trade and retail paint division at Courtaulds International ( Brazil ) hit the jackpot in our British Steel Challenge competition . Don and Steven made the most accurate estimates of how long it would take Courtaulds InterSpray , the Group 's entry in the race , to reach Rio de Janeiro from Southampton on the first leg . Don and wife Barbara will travel to Hobart in Tasmania to watch the start of the third leg on February 13 and then fly on to London via Sydney and Los Angeles .
Idiom: do someone's head in (used idiomatically: yes)
Doing all that TV stuff made me realise that , no , what I 'm interested in is pure movement . You can talk about the nature of art — blah , blah , blah — and I did do some dribbling off into text and stuff , but now I know that movement says more to me than any of this other tosh . ‘ Anyhow , I was so busy last year doing five things at once that it really did my head in . So this year I 'm doing just one new production and I 'm really glad we 're opening at the Tramway . Most of the other venues sympathetic to new work are , unfortunately , the ones with the titchy theatres .
Idiom: up to par (used idiomatically: yes)
The man turned out to be a wine bore of stupendous proportions . I must have kept my end up successfully , though , for just before he left Dennis sought me out and invited me to dinner the following Friday . ‘ Ca n't speak for the food , that 's Kay 's department , but I think I can promise that the tipple will be up to par.’ As for Karen , she left not the slightest impression on me . Apart from that initial glimpse of them both getting out of the car , I literally have no image of her at all .
Idiom: watering hole (used idiomatically: yes)
The alarm calls , the social noises , the sexual or territorial ‘ come - hithers’ or ‘ get thee hence’gestures — the whole spectrum of movement — is all a part of their language , a continuous expression of the inward patterns within the subtle tattvic mind configurations comprising each species . Together with the vibrational communication at the subtle level , all these are going on continuously before our eyes , if we had the understanding to perceive it . The tiger and the sambur may drink together at the same pool , for there is a sanctity observed by many animals at the jungle water hole . Or those voracious fish - eaters , otters , have been seen to play in the same pool as the salmon , fish who would normally flee from the presence of such a competent and fearsome predator . Clearly , they know instinctively when the otter is actually hunting .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
In January 1973 I found myself , and the grey metal trunk my eldest brother had used to take to university in 1967 , dumped in an austere fifth form dormitory in the main block of the school . Being forcibly confined with other blind girls in a school which thought it was a public school soon turned me into a staunchly outspoken socialist . I decided to be unconventional ; dressing differently ( stripy socks and outrageous make - up ) , wearing trousers at every opportunity and trying to organize the other girls into a socialist club . This was the era of the Little Red Schoolbook which I attempted to transcribe into braille with the assistance of a partially - sighted Young Socialist called Katey . My open support of the Irish struggle , reading pro - Sinn Fein poems at school assembly when it was my turn to choose a reading two weeks after the Birmingham pub bombing caused more than a little outrage and several stern pep talks , culminating in threatened expulsion from the headmistress .
Idiom: every last (used idiomatically: no)
QEMM is a memory manager that 's not only efficient , it automatically installs itself with the minimum of effort and gives you huge extra chunks of available memory . It really comes into its own , however , when you need to squeeze that last drop of memory out in order to run a stack of network drivers on top of a hose of TSRs . It uses state - of - the - art techniques to make available every last byte of Upper DOS memory . A techie 's delight . 6
Idiom: at the crossroads (used idiomatically: yes)
A nation was reborn out of Holocaust survivors and uprooted Jewish communities who , mostly through the quality of their human capital , built a booming economy , created one of the world 's most innovative agricultures , and revived a dead language . They also sustained , against all odds , a democracy that , however imperfect and dysfunctional , is nonetheless amazingly vibrant . And yet , at its 60th anniversary , Israel stands at a crossroads . Indeed , Israeli Prime ~ Minister Ehud Olmert has warned of " the end of the Jewish state " if the country remains bogged down in the occupied territories and a Palestinian state is not established . Israel 's internal challenges are no less demanding .
Idiom: give and take (used idiomatically: no)
This transition the train goes through is like the experience one has when watching a train embark on a voyage oneself . At first , close up , it seems very dirty and sullen and yet dignified , large and powerful in its presence until it becomes loud , hurrying up and down the tracks with a frenzied passion , and then , just as we see it disappearing beyond the horizon it seems like a far off star or ‘ comet ’ silently entering another world . The poet writes as if the train were a woman to give it a more human and emotional element and to allow the reader to be involved with the journey on a deeper level than would be necessary if it were a simple poem taken from an objective rather than a personal view . He repeatedly uses the pronoun ‘ She ’ along with ‘ her ’ and describes the train 's movements such as ‘ bouncing ’ which one would normally only connect with human activity but here it enables one to envisage in one 's mind a picture of a regal figure ‘ gliding like a queen ’ down the tracks of the railway . The image of royalty gives us an idea just how powerful and proud the train is as it seems to influence and belittle all the things around it .
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
The crucial moment after 82 minutes as defender Richard Smith fails to head clear Chris Malkin 's volleyed pass forward . The ball drops for Pat Nevin to run through and fire expertly past the keeper low into the left corner . Nevin makes a great run to the byline but his flick - back is missed in a goalmouth scramble by Malkin and John Aldridge before the keeper falls on the ball . Petition goes to Parliament A PETITION calling on the Government to reverse its pits closure programme will be handed in to Shadow Trade and Industry spokesman Robin Cook in Parliament today .
Idiom: in one ear and out the other (used idiomatically: yes)
Because this to me is really one of the key subjects that can lead to either the success or failure of an interview . Very often , I have gone to interview somebody , having told them I want a two and a half minute interview , and I want to cover roughly the following five topics . Despite having told them that , it 's obviously gone in one ear and out the other ear . Their first answer has lasted two and a half minutes . So what do I do ?
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: no)
12 HOURS OF PSYCHEDELIC MADNESS IT 'S A chemically inspired match of young versus old : 12 House Of Psychedelic Madness , running ( if that 's the appropriate word ) from six in the evening to the crack of dawn , wherein the eager , blissed - out upstarts come face to face with crinkly creatures of rock mythology . The two main ' attractions ' , Hawkwind and Planet Gong , have seemingly been around since the dawn of music in one form or another . Hawkwind rely extensively on a canon of work virtually unchanged since their mid-'70s ' Space Ritual ' album . Despite a series of lineup changes , they 're still legends of the live circuit , monsters of epic rock work - outs and nightmarish electric psychedelia .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
Millennia ago the Sahara was a green rain - fed savanna , not unlike the plains of East Africa today . Its many rivers can still be seen from the air , etched like fossils across the desert 's blank expanses . In the hills of Fezzan in southern Libya and at Tassili - n - Ajer in Algeria are galleries of madder - coloured animals engraved on the rocks : rhinoceros and giraffes , elephants and hippopotami , buffalo and antelope , all of which once grazed the lush pastures of the Sahara . The best of the human figures are lithe and graceful with slender necks and delicate hands . They were nomads who hunted the plentiful game and tended herds of cattle and sheep .
Idiom: one of those things (used idiomatically: no)
No we did n't . No no . It 's one of the delightful , I 've been recruiting for a long time and it 's it 's one of those erm delightful things to be able to say to people on the phone when they tell me they 're fifty or fifty four to say that 's not a problem . Because they 're so used to getting rejection . I 've also had people at forty plus telling me the same thing which is a nonsense .
Idiom: plain sailing (used idiomatically: yes)
He was always against the Poet 's Pub idea . To him , the poetry of taverns resided in their authentic atmosphere , not one rendered bogus by the intrusion of ' art ' . Like all office work , as I myself knew only too well , the bank was not invariably plain - sailing . A letter I came across in the Houghton Library at Harvard bemoans to his father an incident in which , for some reason , he had offended a women clerk to whom he had consigned some typing . The incident , which has parallels in most people ' experience , irked him evidently a good deal ; for he could not leave the subject alone .
Idiom: by no stretch of the imagination (used idiomatically: yes)
In different circumstances this might be a great success story , after all , the world 's largest food grain importer is Japan . However , Egypt 's grain imports more than doubled between 1970 and 1986 , from under 4 million to almost 9 million tonnes ( about 180 kg per head ) , foreign debt increased twenty - five fold , to over $ 22 billion , and when the IMF forced the government to increase the price of bread , there were riots in the streets . Transnational involvement in the Egyptian food system can by no stretch of the imagination be said to have improved Egypt 's long - term food security . How , we may ask , can a country like Egypt , by no means the poorest or most vulnerable in the Third World , find itself in this position ? There are , of course , many answers to this question at many levels .
Idiom: go it alone (used idiomatically: yes)
AQUARIUS : Jan 21 to Feb 19 You are feeling pretty good about yourself and this could result in your forming a new friendship with someone attracted to you . Do not try to go it alone today — everything you do will be enhanced by the company of another . Starline number 775 PISCES : Feb 20 to Mar 20