Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: in the soup (used idiomatically: no)
Albert Roux , chef / proprietor of Le Gavroche restaurant The flies and the pigeons do not belong to me . They are not on my payroll . Albert Roux In the Jewish religion … a fly in one 's soup is grounds for divorce . Dr Nicholas Burridge Cooking is n't an art , it 's chemistry . To be a good cook you have to do a lot of things precisely , but it requires no understanding .
Idiom: up the river (used idiomatically: yes)
But have him out of here we must , and quickly . ' They hoisted him into his saddle and bound him there , lying forward upon the beast 's neck with his arms lashed about it to hold him secure , and a folded cloak under his breast and cheek . They took what there was to take , all the mounts that were fit to travel , all the arms that lay masterless about the field , and vanished in the dusk up - river into the mountains with their prisoners and their triumph . The night came down over Bryn Glas , and the remnant of the Mortimer forces crept out of hiding , salvaged what they could , and made lamely for home with their wounds and their disgrace . The squire who carried the news to the king at Berkhamsted reached him on the evening of June 24th .
Idiom: cross swords (used idiomatically: yes)
These have been the Saturn years — during which that planet 's insistence that you measure up to your potential has placed hurdles of all sorts in your way . And although you are nearing the end of this time of trial , Saturn is going out in style . On March 20 and October 9 , Saturn and Pluto cross swords for the first time in two decades . While this may provide some considerable challenge to governments , nations and institutions across the globe , it could also represent something of a personal challenge to you — especially if you were born between February 8 and 18 . Go for broke , and be undeterred in your search for the possible dream .
Idiom: in the black (used idiomatically: yes)
The group 's book printing business had performed well , he said , increasing market share in hardbacks , which had compensated for a fall in demand for mass market paperbacks during the six months . ‘ The paperback market had now improved somewhat , and we believe that book production capacity and demand are more in balance than for some time’ , he added . BRL back in the black Blackwell Retail Ltd edged back into the black — if only just — in the year to end - August 1992 , after two years of losses . The company made a pretax profit of £ 309,000 ( compared with a loss of £ 380,000 in 1991 ) on sales up 6 % to £ 30.5 m .
Idiom: in the hole (used idiomatically: yes)
It , it achieves just as much as softly doing hop skip and a jump . What 's the difference ? It , it achieves the same as somebody , somebody putting a ball in a hole with , with as least hits as he can . It achieves , it achieves as much as some , as somebody throwing a hammer . Or a shot .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
Vicious circles are set up . When fish stocks are severely depleted , their output is also reduced — because there are fewer fish remaining to reproduce . So the fishermen fish even harder , to make up the catches they need to keep their vessels at sea . In the North Sea , it is already clear that fish stocks would increase — and therefore catches would go up — if fishing was greatly reduced . The paradox is , in short , that fishermen would catch more fish if they fished less !
Idiom: take someone to task (used idiomatically: yes)
Some district societies also want an assurance that the Institute will not take on additional regulatory responsibilities without consulting the membership : some go as far as urging it to oppose any future legislation to extend statutory regulation of members ' activities . All the societies stress the need for good communication and PR and argue the importance of their role as a conduit between the Institute and the membership . But they take the Institute to task for criticising the level of services they are able to offer their members . They point to falling revenue from the Institute , the recession and competition over courses . ' We do not see that such undeserved humiliation has a place in the Institute 's Manifesto , ' says Liverpool .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
Why does God always pick on badly managed places with sloppy practices ? ( Guardian 22.8.89 ) However , the change in safety regulations and the harder line taken is not sufficient compensation for the curtailing and running down of health and safety inspections , nor the differences in health and safety regulations which exist between companies operating on land , and those , such as contractors on off - shore oil rigs who are at sea . HEALTH AND SAFETY IN INDUSTRY The catalogue of disasters affecting travel and sports industries has been mirrored by a steady rise in the accident rate in work places .
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
The fire was caused through the carelessness of one of the workmen in blowing out a bench lamp he had been using , and putting it in his drawer at 5.30 pm the previous night , without the fire being properly extinguished on the cotton wick . There were several discrepancies in the statements of the Watchman W. Adams and Steam Raiser James Moore . Adams stated that whilst he and Moore were at supper he saw an unusual light in the direction of the Body Shop but , instead of going to see what it was and turning on the water from the hydrants to endeavour to arrest the progress of the flames , he caused the alarm bell to be rung and then ran to the gate to admit the Fire Brigade . Adams and Moore were discharged and the whole of the Works went on short time , 8 am to 4 pm . In the end , two thirds of the value of the tools destroyed were paid to those whose tools were not insured , and new tool chests were made to replace those destroyed by fire , free of charge .
Idiom: follow in someone's footsteps (used idiomatically: yes)
He was telling her about the Ayatollah , and she was telling him about her convent days . Their words fluttered between them like lubricious little doves . At Deirdre 's elbow stood the faithless Jonathan Headleand , who was trying to explain to his stepmother 's first husband Edgar why he 'd decided , after all his protests , to follow in his father 's footsteps , while simultaneously trying to keep one eye on Deirdre ( for whom he felt responsible ) and the other on his girlfriend Kate Williams who was being harangued by a Tory backbencher about Marxist infiltration of the Open University . The Open University was also the subject of debate between Alix Bowen and Teddy Lazenby of the Department of Education and Science : Alix 's face was expressing a most delicate mixture of disbelief , disapprobation and polite attention as Teddy , somewhat indiscreetly presuming on their long , if long - interrupted , acquaintance , revealed what were clearly his own opinions on the inadvisability of wasting money on the education of housewives and taxi drivers . In other corners and other rooms , dozens of other topics floated gaily on the lively , slightly choppy waters , their pennants bobbing and fluttering in the end - of - year , the terminal breeze : the approaching steel strike , the brave new era of threatened privatization , the abuse of North Sea oil resources , the situation in Afghanistan , the Annan report , the prospect of a fourth television channel , the viability of Charles 's attempt to conquer the United States , the Cambridge Apostles , the disarray of the Labour Party , the deplorable vogue for Buck 's Fizz as a party drink , the Yorkshire Ripper , the Harrow Road murderer , the Prince of Wales .
Idiom: on the double (used idiomatically: no)
A Roman god , Janus guarded doorways and was therefore the god of auspicious beginnings . He had two faces , each looking in opposite directions . This had symbolic significance on the double - gated temple in the Roman Forum , which was open in times of war and closed when peace prevailed . This simile continued in use even in recent times , with The Times newspaper commenting on the American Civil War as follows : Slavery was the hinge on which the gates of the temple of Janus turned .
Idiom: take the mickey (used idiomatically: yes)
We do bits together whenever we get the chance and ( someday ) will do a brand new one . We spilt a few beans and touched the odd ( female ) nerve and laughed off a few fiascos . It seemed odd that taking the ( gentle ) mickey out of women ( i.e. ourselves ) made some men ( not our Real Pals ) feel a bit got at … The subject was Women In Love . Hence True Confessions .
Idiom: name names (used idiomatically: no)
A second possibility is that noun descriptions are always contrasted , and so will lead to the atomic individuals being mapped into different roles in possible scenarios . So , if an actress and a doctor are having coffee , say , the processor may use the different stereotypical activities associated with these sorts of character to specify a contrast between them . In the present study , the noun - noun combination does not produce any more reliable plural continuations than does the name - name combination , so such a contrast mechanism is not operating in the present study . However , since , in the mixed condition , the high incidence of singular references is associated with continuations based on the named - character , support is gained for the idea of contrast over mixed description types , influenced or driven by a tendency to isolate a named character through its elevation to status of ‘ principal character’(cf . Garrod & Sanford 1988 ; Grimaud 1988 ) .
Idiom: break someone's heart (used idiomatically: yes)
' But … oh , heavens , this sounds arrogant , as if I 'm some irresistible Lolita or something … but I would n't want you getting any ideas about me while we 're thrown together like this … ' The glitter of mockery was back with a vengeance , with a darker glint of what could have been anger in his eyes carefully screened by a rakish smile . ' My heart is broken , ' he assured her with emphasis , crashing his hand to his chest with wry drama . ' But from now on I 'll do my best to be as chaste as a Catholic priest . ' A distinctly uneasy peace reigned for the rest of the day .
Idiom: out of the blue (used idiomatically: yes)
Mastermind , maybe ? Not that I care , but it 's handy to be near him , 'cos he 's always got something you can knock off and it 's useful to be able to pinch something of his when the teacher finds you have n't got a pen for the third day running . So there I am popping my tray next to his in the unit , when he says , right out of the blue , completely unprovoked , I have n't said anything — ‘ Push off , Corby . Find some place else.’
Idiom: keep the peace (used idiomatically: yes)
Teacher : able to show your counterparts the range of possibilities and the no go areas of life . A listener who , when speaking , uses what he or she has heard . Diplomat : able to say no without saying no ; not able to say yes until it 's certain ; very good at saying maybe and keeping the peace . Another good listener . Comedian : able to laugh at the tension and blow it away .
Idiom: throw the baby out with the bathwater (used idiomatically: yes)
Not anymore . Elections are still held , but the legacy of Chávez ’s decade in power consists , first and foremost , in the demolition of democratic institutions . Elected in a landslide to clean up the political vices of the previous establishment , Chávez chose to throw the baby out with the bathwater . The previous regime , including its system of checks and balances and its tradition of political tolerance , did disappear , but its vices – particularly graft and demagoguery – became worse than ever . Pretty much like 10 years ago , Venezuela , once a destination for immigrants from around the world , remains under - developed .
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: no)
What were you expecting ? " It was evening once more and Hazel and Fiver were feeding outside the wood with two friends . Blackberry , the rabbit with tipped ears who had been startled by Fiver the night before , had listened carefully to Hazel 's description of the notice board , remarking that he had always felt sure that men left these things about to act as signs or messages of some kind , in the same way that rabbits left marks on runs and gaps . It was another neighbour , Dandelion , who had now brought the talk back to the Threarah and his indifference to Fiver 's fear . " I do n't know what I expected , " said Hazel .
Idiom: save face (used idiomatically: no)
' I 'll do what I can as far as the Corosini are concerned , ' he said gruffly , scowling at the leap of pathetic gratitude in her eyes . It did n't matter whether she believed him or not . He might be pretending to help her to save his face in front of Katarina and perhaps to impress her with his kindness . Whatever the reason , there was nothing she could do , other than hope . She tore her eyes away from his and pushed through the crowd , wanting only to put a great distance between herself and Lucenzo .
Idiom: on the horn (used idiomatically: yes)
Welcome ! Del , Sel , Mel and now Tel . Beeby , get the Guinness Book of Records on the horn . Pull up a beer , you guys , and utilize the accommodation.’ Lloyd picked up a beer can , lifted Beeby 's legs up with one hand , sat down on the sofa and let her legs fall across his lap .
Idiom: pack a punch (used idiomatically: yes)
You hate me when I turn up in the sexy German motor , you hate me when I ca n't turn up at all . You 're schizophrenic , so y'are . ' Rosie , although small , could pack a hefty punch . They had some of their best times when they were close to fighting , they had both noticed it . She went for him now , on the grassy river bank , surprising staider strolling couples .
Idiom: hang fire (used idiomatically: no)
He could parody the poetry of grazing cows and vicarage lawns , foxhunting and romantic love . He could quote trench poetry . But this project too hung fire , impeded perhaps by the conflicting duty to Cabestainh , perhaps by sun and wine , perhaps by distance — English lawns seemed far"away . And then he was partly taken over by a piece he neither intended nor wanted to write and which preoccupied him obsessively , the dramatisation of the dispute , in the Yellow House in Arles , between Paul Gauguin and Vincent Van Gogh . This work had begun , like Frederica 's limp tales , as a kind of tourism .
Idiom: plain as a pikestaff (used idiomatically: yes)
Brian prompted her , gently . ‘ Well , how the child herself nearly drowned . Besides none of us ever knew the whole story , even though it was as plain as a pikestaff when you came to think about it . I suppose , by saying this I 've already gone back on my word . Still , if it 's going to help Mrs Markham to get better , I might as well go on .
Idiom: for my money (used idiomatically: yes)
Sweet Lee , sailor Gabriel , and the ghost . God alone knows what she saw in that brute . Lee 's one of the chosen and he 's one of the damned , for my money . No , I 'm jealous . Oh , women .
Idiom: have been around (used idiomatically: yes)
BA 's headline - grabbing World 's Biggest Offer was insufficient to turn the judges ' heads from Virgin 's achievement in increasing its routes , despite the Gulf War and the recession . One suspects that the David and Goliath nature of their ongoing battle may have swayed the decision further in Virgin 's direction . Recession has obviously hit new product development hard , and two of the nominees for new product of the year in fmcg , including the winner Häagen - Dazs , have been around since before 1991 . But there can be little doubt that Häagen - Dazs has really put premium ice - cream on the marketing map , not least by its bold , passion - exuding press ads through Bartle Bogle Hegarty . Ice - cream as sex substitute or sex aid ?
Idiom: on the ball (used idiomatically: yes)
DIRTY OR MUDDY BALL On a full shot the mud is often knocked off at impact . However , there are times when a piece of mud , or dirt , has dried on the ball . When hit , this ball will tend to flutter . This flutter is different from a wobble in that the movement of the ball is quicker and more erratic .
Idiom: run a mile (used idiomatically: no)
But do n't expect people wo n't notice , love . Old Red being S.S.O. , and you 're being only a third - year , of course they 'll notice ! Particularly as normally he 'd rather run that mile than chat up a nurse ! And to think you 're in my set ! I shall bask smugly in your reflected glory — but do n't worry !
Idiom: in a nutshell (used idiomatically: yes)
I have called it an unorthodox theory because few adhere to it . However , this does not mean that it is wrong . In a nutshell , orthodox theories are based on homogeneous ' hot ' accretion , the high temperatures leading to differentiation . This unorthodox theory is based on inhomogeneous ' cold ' accretion , the only differentiation being the separation of any lunar core that might exist because of the increase in temperature expected towards the centre of any planet ( section 2.1.16 ) . Any boundary at a depth of about 300 km ( Figure 6.3 ) would be the direct result of inhomogeneous accretion .
Idiom: go round in circles (used idiomatically: yes)
Independent taxation : round in circles Sir , — I wonder if I might use your publication to enquire of the members in practice as to their success or otherwise in dealing with the Inland Revenue on the matter of dividends paid to directors ' wives where shares have been transferred to the wives following independent taxation . We have been arguing the point with the inspector at claims branch for many many months and we just seem to go round in circles . We do not wish to be the first case of this kind to go before the Special Commissioners . The inspector argues that because the directors ( the husbands ) have the right to veto a transfer of shares , this constitutes a condition under s 685(4B ) ICTA 1988 , thus taking the gift outside the provisions of independent taxation and rendering the dividends taxable on the husbands .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: no)
‘ Where is he now?’ ‘ I have n't a clue . He got lost in Istanbul and I could n't wait so I went on without him.’ ‘ That was a bit cool , was n't it ? He could have been murdered by a carpet - seller or something.’
Idiom: get a grip (used idiomatically: no)
This will need topdressing each year in spring , together with the addition of a little slow - acting organic fertilizer — herbs are much more aromatic when grown " hard " with little nutrient . Walls built to support terraces , used as boundaries , forming part of a flight of steps , containing raised beds and so on , whether brick or stone , lend themselves to planting actually in their fabric . Feverfew , soapwort , chamomile , wallflower and clove pinks are some to plant in crevices and holes in the wall itself first putting in a little compost for the plant 's roots to get a grip on . If the space extends to soil at the back of the wall , so much the better , as the plant can then root through into it , and the choice widens to include any small perennial herb . Formal paved areas in the garden provide a nice contrast to the freely curving growth of the plants but , however well laid the paving stones , tiles or bricks , sooner or later weeds sprout through the cracks , and it is either a case of weedkiller , not popular with organic gardeners , or constant weeding , which scrapes fingertips and breaks nails .
Idiom: step on it (used idiomatically: yes)
These were persistent after the second night . The subject complained that the floor was covered with a greasy - looking , molecular layer of rapidly moving or oscillating particles . Often this layer was a foot above the floor and parallel with it and this caused the subject trouble walking , as he would try to step up on it . Later the air was full of these dancing particles which developed into swarms of little bodies like gnats , but colored red , purple or black . The subject would climb upon a chair to brush them from about the gas jet or stealthily try to touch an imaginary fly on the table with his finger .
Idiom: against the grain (used idiomatically: no)
And do n't ask why again,’ he held up one hand . ‘ Just accept what I 've said.’ It went against the grain to meekly obey , but the look in his eyes told her in no uncertain terms that she was standing on the edge of a minefield . ‘ Then why did n't you go straight to the police with what he 'd told you?’ ‘ Because he could n't give me names , only descriptions .
Idiom: play into someone's hands (used idiomatically: yes)
He had to resist it . It is a perfect illustration of Innocent 's monarchic and autocratic instincts . Chance had played into his hands . Innocent was in no doubt as to the proper roles of kings and emperors . They were there to assist the papacy in its work of extending the Christian religion and maintaining a just society .
Idiom: in a fog (used idiomatically: yes)
But overhead lighting could help eliminate some of the dangers . Those who use the motorway regularly like lorry drivers tend to stop off during foggy periods . They have mixed views about the benefit of lights when driving in fog . More bouts of fog are expected later this week . The advice to drivers is to slow down and take heed of the warning signals .
Idiom: come to a head (used idiomatically: yes)
The April 14 constituent congress of the Independent Communist Party of Latvia elected Ivan Kezbers as party chairman , and announced a programme featuring a call for the restoration of Latvia 's independence from the Soviet Union . Ruling on controversial corruption investigators The controversy surrounding the work of Telman Gdlyan and Nikolai Ivanov , chief corruption investigators with the USSR Procurator General 's office , came to a head on April 18 when the USSR Supreme Soviet voted to refuse a request by the Procuracy that it rescind the mandates of the two men to sit in the Congress of People 's Deputies , so that they might face criminal charges relating to coercion of suspects and witnesses . However , it agreed to a demand that Gdlyan and Ivanov be dismissed from working in the Procuracy , and in a resolution it warned them that their parliamentary immunity from prosecution could yet be withdrawn if they persisted in making " groundless " statements attacking the country 's leaders . They had already been expelled in February from the Communist Party ( CPSU ) by the Procuracy 's party branch committee for " slander , violating the law , political extremism and gross abuses of party rules " .
Idiom: on the level (used idiomatically: yes)
In a number of cases the jurisdictional facts will be expressed in terms of a subjective open textured discretion : the if X element will be ' if the Minister thinks fit , necessary , etc . , he may do … . ' The reasons for not dealing with these cases in the previous chapter have already been given . Having seen how the courts control discretion when it is found on the Y level , it is necessary also to examine the control methods when discretion appears within , or is , the jurisdictional fact . A distinction must be drawn between cases where a criterion of reasonableness is contained in the statute and those where it is not . ( 1 ) An express requirement of reasonableness
Idiom: neck and neck (used idiomatically: yes)
In the distance he could hear a familiar rumble growing louder . A ‘ Coronation’ tram , No 1174 , swayed into view and he began to run for the stop . His feet and his heart pounded faster and faster on the pavement and he found himself racing neck and neck with the tram as it approached the fare stage . Without stopping , the double - decker tramcar , its lights blazing , whined away into the distance . John stood , leaning against the upright , panting noisily .