Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
Do n't you know what it is even now?’ ‘ No , I do n't . Stop playing games , Luke — there is n't time for that . It might only be hours before the police start questioning you!’ ‘ So what are you suggesting : that I make up some nice little story ?
Idiom: on the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
HELEN JARVIS was homeless in Brent , North London . Brent council put her and her baby daughter in a ‘ bed and breakfast hotel ’ . They offered her a flat in the Stonebridge estate , Wembley , which she refused on health grounds . The council have a very strict rule that homeless people are only allowed one offer of a council house . They promptly chucked her out of the bed and breakfast hotel and she and the baby are sleeping on a relative 's floor .
Idiom: beyond the pale (used idiomatically: yes)
If you think I exaggerate , you have not been paying close attention . The pandering to extremist groups , the rejection of science , the outright lies and distortions , and the evasion of the real issues that characterized the most recent election cycle set a new low for democratic politics . Without question , the worst offenders are America ’s Republicans , whose leaders have somehow become enraptured by ideas that are beyond the pale in other advanced countries . Of the party ’s dozen presidential candidates , only two ( Mitt ~ Romney and Jon ~ Huntsman ) declined to reject scientific evidence concerning global ~ warming and its human causes . But , when pressed on it , Romney was sufficiently uncomfortable about his position that he wobbled on the issue .
Idiom: twist someone's arm (used idiomatically: yes)
Wave after wave of sensation ran through her until she thought she might drown in a tide of pleasure as his tongue and hands explored the soft silkiness of her body , his lips always returning , though , to meet her lips , like a humming - bird seeking nectar . Every nerve filled with tingling life , she let him teach her new sensations , new feelings , totally passive under his expert touch , until she too began to know the need to feel his skin under her fingers . Wantonly she twisted her arms around his neck , revelling in the great shudder of desire she felt in response , but with surprise she quickly became aware that he was holding back , almost as if he was having second thoughts . ‘ Love me , Ace … ’ she whispered in his ear , painfully trying to keep hold of that insubstantial thread of feeling before it evaporated between them . ‘ Kate , Kate …
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: no)
On wider windows two smaller blinds side by side may be better . There are two methods of making these blinds ; Method 1 gives a professional finish using narrow wooden laths , which are slotted into channels in the lining to keep the pleats defined and neatly layered ; Method 2 is simpler , using vertical rows of tape and rings , and creates a softer , less rigid line which is more suitable for use at a small window . The blinds can be fitted on to a wooden batten with touch - and - close fastener for easy removal , and are operated by pulling up cords which pass through rings on the back of the blind , then through screw - eyes on the underside of the batten . They are easy and inexpensive to make as they require only enough outer fabric to cover the actual window opening , or your desired size , plus a little extra lining when making up as Method 1 . It is essential to use closely woven , firm fabric of good quality which is on grain .
Idiom: full tilt (used idiomatically: yes)
Nearly all have favourite places where they regularly sleep or drink or hunt and most move around along particular trails . The African elephant shrew , a highly - strung insect - eating mammal the size of a mouse with a nose drawn out into a mobile trunk , depends for its safety on knowing its trails better than any hunter that might chase it . It must be able to run full - tilt down any of its tracks , anticipating every hazard on the surface that might trip it up and leaning into familiar bends like an experienced racing driver going round a well - practised circuit . So first thing every morning , the shrew trots round the course , clearing away any twigs or leaves that might have fallen across it with side - swipes of its delicate fore - legs . Its knowledge of its home range , however , is not restricted to these tracks , even though it seldom leaves them .
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: yes)
ROBERT TAYLOUR / Trading Standards Officer Voice over Alison Clifford is back in the saddle , but only on a borrowed horse . Her pony Strawberry was put down after breaking a leg , and its replacement Jamie proved unsuitable for Alison , who has rheumatoid arthritis . So she gave Jamie to a horse dealer called Liz Burt and asked for another in return .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: no)
There has been much discussion over the last decade about an ‘ entitlement’ curriculum . The idea of entitlement probably represents an attempt , during a much longer debate about the need for a ‘ national’ curriculum , to bring into focus the child 's individual needs and rights : it is needed to counterbalance any propensity towards the state 's collective needs — totalitarianism if you will — which a move towards a nationally prescribed curriculum might bring with it . Of course debate about the National Curriculum has been around a lot longer , but its popularisation and public debate is a relatively recent phenomenon . It was a ‘ secret garden’ at least to David Eccles who when Secretary of State for the second time , in 1962 , was determined ( against the better judgement of many of its guardians ) to strip it of its secrecy . Eccles ' vehicle for clearing the garden 's secrecy was the Schools Council — not a very efficient or fast - moving garden Rotavator .
Idiom: the biter bit (used idiomatically: yes)
This was a clumsy piece of diplomacy : the offer was not implemented , though Thucydides is sure that it was sincere . It can not have pleased Kimon , the Spartans ' friend , any more than it pleased politicians of more obviously radical complexion . But the same year , 465 , saw the biter bit : instead of forcing Athens to abandon an overseas operation to deal with a problem nearer home , that is , a Spartan army menacing the Attic border , Sparta was herself forced to welch on the Thasos offer , because she had to deal with a revolt of the helots at Ithome in Messenia . This coincided with an earthquake — for a superstitious Spartan , a sign of divine disapproval , which might well make the helots , who were surely experts in the psychology of their oppressors , hope that Spartan nerve might give . Unable to cope alone , the Spartans called on Athens for help .
Idiom: in the pipeline (used idiomatically: yes)
When Britain 's water companies went private in 1989 it was predicted that the cost of improving water services would be £ 28 billion over a decade . Now the industry says the cost will be £ 60 billion and blames the EC for demanding ‘ impossible’ standards for drinking water . In the turbulent world of the water industry there could be a few more shocks in the pipeline . CONCERN : Mr Byatt PROTEST : Friends of the Earth hit out at polluters
Idiom: on the ropes (used idiomatically: no)
and that seeing as you know the way then we 'll go to erm , go and have a session on the ropes course hmm , be sick of rope courses No he wo n't , only gon na do the two , they 're doing the , the Ullswater one and the Eskdale one
Idiom: catch someone's eye (used idiomatically: yes)
The hotel neon sign lights up our faces . Lucker pulls his bags through the two front seats . A crisp sports bag with the tour dates and band logo printed all over it catches my eye . It is hot fuchsia pink and brand spanking new . ‘ Smart !
Idiom: heart and soul (used idiomatically: yes)
When , driven by unbearable mental torment , Raskolnikov enters the building and climbs the stairs , a splendidly ample and imaginative podvig seems to be in prospect , un avancement spirituel . It 's only afterwards , in the Epilogue , that we learn with surprise and perhaps some vexation that repentance and acceptance of suffering come to him not then but much later , in prison ; his confession was not the decisive moral feat we took it for . It was not a heart - and - soul confession but an admission of guilt . And what about Stavrogin as he stands smiling , not of course a happy smile , no kind of unambiguous smile , about to enter the monastery , fingering the pages in his pocket ? The man as I say is all Raskolnikov .
Idiom: throw the book at (used idiomatically: no)
The younger men are sometimes accused of being too officious , too ready to throw their weight around : ‘ They know they 've got the law behind them . And you 've got the odd youngster who will go there and throw the book at somebody . … And this gets their [ polluter 's]back up and they do n't want to know you then . But I find this with quite a few of the young ones .
Idiom: by and large (used idiomatically: yes)
Yes I think Do do any of those come into play ? Erm I would think , by and large in practical terms erm they do not , I 'm immediately thinking of the erm er on the Derwent . Erm some of which would be in the area of search but I think practically , for obviously drainage reasons , they would n't be a constraining factor . The other one that immediately comes to mind is er is is Strensall common but that of course is within the greenbelt erm anyway .
Idiom: rewrite history (used idiomatically: yes)
Laura Tyson , the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers , who is meant to be on the protectionist side of this debate , flatly denies this : those who believe it , she says , are living in a ‘ different reality’ . Ms Tyson may protest too much ; but she could certainly argue that at no time in the previous two administrations did everyone involved in trade policy sing from the same songbook . It is an error to rewrite history to pretend that they did . How do members of the administration themselves think trade policy has changed ? On May 4th , Mr Kantor gave four examples .
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
Her handbag had fallen behind the car seat when she 'd stopped at the traffic lights in town so several minutes were lost as she scrabbled for her pass , then when she drove into the car park she could n't immediately find a space and had to drive round several times . By the time she entered the building and hurried across to Occupational Health she was several minutes later than she liked to be in the mornings . To her dismay , as she pushed open the door of the treatment - room the first person she set eyes on was David Markham . ‘ Oh , you 're here already,’ she said . He was leaning against a table and he straightened up as she came in .
Idiom: free and easy (used idiomatically: yes)
High rocky cliffs pitted with little sandy coves melt away into long stretches of silvery beach . Scattered amongst the infinite variety of trees and plants are picturesque villages whose white - walled cottages have blended into the light - coloured landscape to give Ibiza the nickname ‘ La Isla Blanca’— The White Island . From all over Europe , young people are attracted by the free and easy spirit in Ibiza which makes a holiday so much fun . Kings Road fashions are sold in the heart of Ibiza 's historic capital whilst San Antonio boasts some of the best nightclubs in the Mediterranean . All in all , it 's a great place to leave behind the routine of life at home and really be yourself .
Idiom: in the long run (used idiomatically: yes)
For that reason one should not completely rule out that a European ~ Penal ~ Code might also include these areas in the long run .
Idiom: dead wood (used idiomatically: no)
There is no better therapy than redundancy Shake the leaves off the tree in autumn . Cut out the dead wood so that the young new wood can grow and develop . Not everyone should wait until the standard age to retire . A percentage grow stale prematurely , becoming disenchanted , whatever .
Idiom: neck of the woods (used idiomatically: yes)
She reminded him of someone , or rather he felt he had met her before . ‘ It 's hardly likely,’ Freddie Reynalde pointed out . ‘ You have n't been in this neck of the woods for years , and I doubt if in all her life she 's been further than Blackpool.’ The first dress - rehearsal lasted the whole of Saturday . Bunny had taken the precaution of holding separate flying- and lighting - rehearsals on the Friday , with the result that the delays were structural rather than technical — the deck of the Jolly Roger swayed alarmingly during the fight between the pirates and the Lost Boys , and the ticking of the crocodile was found to be inaudible beyond the first three rows of the stalls .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
Prijon plastic definitely ameliorates if not quite gets rid of this problem . There is much less flexing both fore and aft and laterally in the Seayak than in other plastic sea kayaks . This is important at sea where most paddle strokes are power strokes . You do now want forward power diverted into other types of movement by the interaction of wave with hull . The rigidity of the Seayak is noticeable but it is still a plastic boat and therefore slow and fairly cumbersome .
Idiom: grind to a halt (used idiomatically: yes)
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council formally agreed on the Cambodian peace plan ( the so - called " P-5 plan " ) in August 1990 , and it was approved in September by the opposing Cambodian factions at the end of a two - day meeting in Jakarta . The parties also agreed on the formation of a 12-member Supreme National Council ( SNC ) , to embody Cambodian " independence , sovereignty and unity " and to occupy the Cambodian UN seat during the transitional period before UN - supervised elections . The first meeting of the SNC convened in the disused Cambodian embassy in Bangkok on mid - September , but after two days the talks had ground to a halt , with disagreements over the appointment of a Chair . The SNC eventually convened again in Paris in late December , without an agreement having been reached on the Chair issue . A final statement released after the talks stated that there had been " concurrence " on most of the fundamental points of the P-5 plan , which , however , remained deadlocked during the early months of 1991 .
Idiom: in black and white (used idiomatically: no)
Keep Out … by Order of … ‘ Christ Almighty!’ Three arched windows printed themselves in black and white on my retinas , the relics flared under a sizzling discharge between sky and turret . Suddenly I was jumping , yelling out as the flagstone beat my feet like a cudgel or stone cricket bat . Ozone buzz .
Idiom: bear in mind (used idiomatically: yes)
4 . Extension and strengthening of Community action . The Council " notes that there is a wide recognition of the need to extend or define the Community 's competence in specific areas " , among them : " the social dimension , including the need for social dialogue ; economic and social cohesion among the member states ; improved protection of the environment in order to ensure sustainable growth ; the health sector and in particular the combating of major diseases ; a research effort commensurate with the development of the Community 's competitive capacity ; an energy policy aiming at greater security and efficiency , bearing in mind also co - operation in the whole of Europe [ a Dutch proposal ] ; providing the Community with major infrastructures , allowing also the completion of a trans - European network ; safeguarding the diversity of the European heritage and promoting cultural exchanges and education … " 5 . Effectiveness and efficiency .
Idiom: have kittens (used idiomatically: no)
And how do you spell that ? Erm C A T. Right now if the cat has kittens how do you spell that ? C I double T E N S. Very good the only the only there 's only one letter wrong in that have a guess which one it was .
Idiom: gone with the wind (used idiomatically: no)
While the 1970s and ' 80s brought new levels of technical expertise , some of the best matte paintings of all time can be seen in a 1930s production which , though having a very big budget for its day , nonetheless incorporated shrewd economies , including the avoidance of location shooting and of building sets that would be used only briefly . Several of the Georgian mansions in Gone With the Wind ( 1939 ) , together with most of the burning buildings of Atlanta ( or rather , the buildings in front of those supposed to burning in the distance ) were the work of the talented matte painter Jack Cosgrove , though for montage sequences he had help from the neighbouring MGM effects department , since MGM and Selznick , the producer , were both located in Culver City . Some ingenious shots that peel away Cosgrove 's rural mattes to reveal the cityscape behind even the real buildings , such as Selznick 's own trademark administration building ( luckily built by Thomas Ince in the Greek - classical porticoed style of Southern plantation mansions ) , are shown in David Hinton 's well - researched documentary , Making of a Legend : Gone With The Wind . Though matte painting was and is favoured largely for economy — it reduces travel or set building or both — handcrafted painting is at times capable of effects that are beyond photography in terms of atmosphere , imagination and invention . It is not a stopgap but a proper part of the cinematic arts .
Idiom: on ice (used idiomatically: yes)
SHARES were in limbo yesterday ahead of the Chancellor 's autumn statement due this afternoon . The FT - SE 100 Index lost most of Tuesday 's 19-point gain and at the end of the session was 17 points adrift at 2696.8 . Dealers on the foreign exchange markets were also hedging their bets and the pound was also on ice . But water shares bucked the trend and , as usual , were a haven in times of trouble . Most enjoyed good rises , helped by Ofwat 's favourable report the other day .
Idiom: in the fast lane (used idiomatically: yes)
Should they be speeding up because someone is behind them ? Or , should they be slowing down because sooner or later their hectic pace will do them in ? Many studies have been made in an effort to assess the correct national speed , and to warn those in the fast lane of their ultimate folly . For example , this month 's issue of Psychology Today contains the result of a study of the pace of life in 36 American cities . Researchers stood on street corners , checked the clocks in banks and the speed at which tellers cashed cheques and shop assistants gave change .
Idiom: sing the praises of (used idiomatically: yes)
Four and twenty blackbirds . Or magpies . Four and twenty black and white nuns singing the praises of God baked in a pie . Thérèse lifted out bunches of letters held together by rubber bands . All of them , she saw as she flicked through them , addressed to Soeur Dosithée , and all of them signed your loving sister Antoinette .
Idiom: on the back of (used idiomatically: yes)
THE VERDICT You must have guessed by now that 1 - 2 - 3 for Windows is n't the best Windows spreadsheet on the market . I ca n't fault it in performing the basic functions that you can reasonably expect from a spreadsheet , but I do feel that Lotus has tried to sell 1 - 2 - 3 for Windows on the back of the original DOS version , which misses the point of an Windows spreadsheet entirely . Excel , on the other hand , is a well - developed product which has stood the test of time . I like using it , as do many other people , and it seems to be becoming the new industry standard .
Idiom: make or break (used idiomatically: yes)
That will cost the Treasury £ 400 m in the second year of the poll tax , £ 200 m in the third , and £ 85 m in the fourth . The package will be extended to Wales , and retrospectively to Scotland , where the poll tax is already in force . On the eve of Nigel Lawson 's make - or - break speech to the Tory conference in Blackpool , an opinion poll last night suggested that 68 per cent of the voters had little confidence in his management of the economy . The Guardian / ICM poll , taken last week when interest rates went up to 15 per cent , also found that Labour had maintained its 10 per cent lead over the Conservatives . Pressure on the pound lightened yesterday as financial markets decided to suspend judgement until they heard what the Chancellor had to say , a mood which was reflected among Conservative representatives .
Idiom: out of sight (used idiomatically: yes)
Turning , Meredith was just in time to glimpse a man standing by one of the loose - boxes . She had a brief impression of a swarthy , handsome face and strong build , a quilted body - warmer and well - worn sweater , the inevitable riding breeches and boots . Then he ducked into the loose - box out of sight . ‘ Tom 's in one of his funny moods,’ said Harriet with a shrug . ‘ Come and meet Blazer.’
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: yes)
Occasionally — maybe eight or ten times a season on the remaining Saturdays — there were first class fixtures for select fifteens representing the unions in the Currie Cup competition . It was this fundamentally sound structure which made the game readily accessible to everyone in those unions and led to the South African game being so strong , so great , and so famous . That was because it enabled the whole rugby fraternity to participate , with financial reward being the last thing on anyone 's mind . Amateurs all , this also meant that the Springboks were chosen from dorps in the Boland and the Border as well as from the cities of the Transvaal and Northern Transvaal . In the last 30 years , and long before the amalgamation in March of the white and black and brown rugby factions , the unions were gradually split and sub - divided until now they number perhaps 26 . of these , 20 are rural , including Boland and Border , and have been weakened to a point where they are virtually powerless , impoverished , dying or dead .
Idiom: rough and tumble (used idiomatically: yes)
Our dilemma is that it speaks of a level of separation from the world , the flesh and human reality which has already proved far too harmful to the churches in general and for women in particular for us to consider returning to it . Monolithic notions of sanctity reveal a startling reliance on hierarchical thinking . The saint is the man who has withdrawn from the rough - and - tumble world of everyday living . He is white or , if he is black , a recent convert to the missionary Church and a martyr . He is generally unmarried , even though he may have had a shady past which included associating with women .
Idiom: full of beans (used idiomatically: yes)
History backs Fergie 's optimism — United have lost only one of 10 League games against Villa in his time — but current form suggests otherwise . The fading Reds have managed only one win in 11 outings , and they have scored only six goals . Lee Sharpe is also back in the squad , full of beans after seven junior games . The young England winger , laid low with illness since the start of the season , is likely to be substitute . Lay off Keane — Clough
Idiom: streets ahead (used idiomatically: no)
No . You are . You are , you 're over a street ahead . Not quite . Not quite .
Idiom: once in a while (used idiomatically: yes)
Do you like American food?’ ‘ Do I ? It 's wickedly fattening , but once in a while … ’ ‘ There 's a new restaurant in Stowbridge called the Mayflower . It 's opposite the library.’
Idiom: in my book (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I smell big trouble.’ The front doors swung open like a piper at the gates of dawn and two of the biggest guys I 'd ever seen swaggered in wearing more black than a Valentine Dyall fan club dinner . Now I do n't know much about running gags from books previous that I ai n't been in , but it seemed to me that one of them was toting a 7.62 M134 General Electric Minigun , which in my books generally spells schadenfreude . I saw the barrels begin to spin and that 's when I snatched up Barry and whipped out the trusty Smith and West Wittering . The big guy with the big gun strafed the place .