Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: everything but the kitchen sink (used idiomatically: no)
Elaine Smith was very warm and moving as Josie Riley who at thirty - eight with the kids grown is all energy for the community and conceives a very requited fancy for Bazz Blacker , the well - meaning social worker downstairs . Rab Handleigh 's Bazz was quite wickedly funny singing ' Serial Monogamy ' Jack Jones - style , apart from the fact he was wearing Josie 's clothes and identity . It was a bit everything - but - the - kitchen - sink on sexual politics , and its switches from comedy to Myra McFadden 's chilling incest victim 's song might have been a bit startling , but I still felt pleased with it and learned ( I hope ) an awful lot from it , mainly about structure which I find hard , and how to pinch plots from people who knew how to do it . At Festival time 1983 , Fania Williams , who had just taken over the Tron in Glasgow , asked me if I was interested in fairy tales . I showed her my book of poems , ' The Grimm Sisters ' , and she asked if I 'd like to work with a choreographer on a ' dance piece ' which would be a grown - up Christmas show with words and music and story , but mainly dance .
Idiom: body blow (used idiomatically: yes)
Neil 's war cry NOTTS County boss Neil Warnock , preparing for tonight 's Coca Cola Cup first leg against Wolves , has challenged his players : ‘ Let 's see you come out fighting — the same as me!’ Warnock , under fire after a 6 - 0 blasting by Millwall , said : ‘ Millwall was a body blow but I 've told my players that I 've always been a fighter . I 'll come out battling — but will they?’ Kenny nicks Nicky
Idiom: out of this world (used idiomatically: yes)
In places , it escapes from confining boulder slopes and low cliffs and gives uninterrupted views across a wild moorland interspersed with sheets of water to the distant mountains soaring abruptly skywards in complete isolation as though not on speaking terms with each other . For mile after mile , the road threads a way forward , sometimes turning inland to avoid the rocky shore , sometimes hugging the coast to avoid the impenetrable inland . When it comes alongside Enard Bay , where seals may be seen , the scenery is exquisite , out of this world . In due course , and all too soon , the excitement of the scenery fades as the road declines through woodland to the only buildings , the Nature Reserve of Inverpolly , there crossing the River Polly and climbing over a bare moorland dominated by Stac Polly , here seen end on as a slender spire , and then finally joins the Ullapool - Achiltibuie road . On my first acquaintance with the mad little road , in about 1950 , I had no feelings of affection for it nor any eye for the beauty all around , my gaze being fixed on the tarmac ahead as I dragged weary legs along it .
Idiom: at a loss for words (used idiomatically: yes)
' She was sweet , wonderful and very special . Divine really , ' says the Princess . The Countess was known locally for her frequent visits to the sick and the infirm and never at a loss for a generous word or gesture . While Diana has inherited her mother 's sparky , strong - willed nature she has also been blessed with her paternal grandmother 's qualities of thoughtfulness and compassion . In contrast to the eerie splendours of Althorp , Diana 's rambling ten - bedroomed home , Park House , was positively cosy notwithstanding the staff cottages , extensive garages , outdoor swimming pool , tennis court and cricket pitch in the grounds as well as the six full - time staff who included a cook , a butler and a private governess .
Idiom: cut corners (used idiomatically: yes)
1 Cut off one sloping short end of the cake to form a secure standing base . Cut out the two top corners ( about 2·5cm/1inch down and along ) to distinguish the head . Brush the cake with apricot glaze . 2
Idiom: go under the hammer (used idiomatically: yes)
' Jardin à Auvers ' to be auctioned by Binoche PARIS . A painting of a garden at Auvers - sur - Oise by Van Gogh , finished only days before he killed himself , will become the first historical monument to go under the hammer in France when it is sold at Drouot salerooms on 6 December by Paris auctioneer Maître Jean - Claude Binoche of the firm Binoche et Godeau . The first major work by the artist to go on the block since ' Portrait du Dr Gachet ' reached the world record sum of $ 82,500,000 ( £ 43,107,142 ) at Christie 's New York in May 1990 , ' Jardin à Auvers'was classified as a monument historique in July 1989 French museums possess only a meagre twenty - five paintings by Van Gogh out of a total output of 879 works . The painting is estimated at a mere FFr50–80 million , not because of the recession so much as the fact it must obviously stay in France .
Idiom: take it easy (used idiomatically: yes)
If , after all this time , we 're back to this sort of malarkey , they can fuck it , I 'm going on hunger strike.’ Brian urged me to calm down . ‘ Let 's see what happens tomorrow , they 're probably just in a fit about something , take it easy.’ I did and the next morning the chain was loosened again . We had changed a lot over the four years we 'd been together .
Idiom: free rein (used idiomatically: yes)
the vegetables , where so many restaurants lose points in m y reckoning , were exceptional , comprising of broccoli , carrots , new and Dauphinoise potatoes . A bottle of house red lived up to the expectations predicted by the standard of the food — rich and fruity and not recommended for those driving home . The chef that evening , Nigel Alexander , originally from Stockton , has returned to the north after four years as a chef in London and is given a free rein with the menu . He let me into one of his secrets when he told me that he tries to avoid cream sauces and prefers to use stock and wine reductions . Technical talk , but certainly interesting , particularly perhaps for those unable to eat dairy foods and whose choice must often be severely limited when dining out .
Idiom: steer clear of (used idiomatically: yes)
The quickest way to discover this was often , sadly , the hard way . The client who claimed he would rather know the truth was usually the type who would not . He who really wanted the facts had other sources by which he ascertained them , like his bank manager who invariably would advise steering clear of licensed dealers , and the OTC market in particular . The streetwise client resorted to trickery , just like his dealer . Afterwards , he could always claim that it was sent to an old or wrong address by mistake , or that it must have got lost in the post .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
Another strategy for improving skills with documents is to precis a passage . Many documents , especially from the nineteenth century , contain redundant words which only serve to confuse . By writing a precis you boil a passage down to its essentials , and the meaning should then be crystal clear ! PRECIS : WRITING A SUMMARY Study these examples of rewording and precis .
Idiom: foot the bill (used idiomatically: yes)
JOHN MAJOR yesterday officially launched Manchester 's bid to stage the 2000 Olympics with the prediction : ' We are going for gold and I believe we will get it . ' The Prime Minister decided to unveil Manchester 's ' unique ' £ 1.5 billion blue - print for the Games at his Downing Street home to emphasise how important he believes the bid is for both the city and the nation . Major ignored the prophets of financial doom who fear the taxpayer could end up footing a massive bill by insisting : ' I think it 's a good bargain for all of us . ' Organisers boasted of a technically unsurpassed ' compact ' Games which could make a profit of £ 65 million . With Major announcing that Government support would now total £ 115 million as well as pledging it would underwrite costs , they hailed his enthusiastic involvement as their trump card .
Idiom: close shave (used idiomatically: yes)
And they revelled in the moment when they mounted the famous ramp at Monte Carlo for photographs . Mr Brown has a constant reminder of their week - long adventure in the shape of a beard which he grew specially to keep his face warm ! Now the challenge is complete , he is considering a close shave , probably in the name of charity . Mr Simon , left , and Mr Brown , back home with the Morgan . Mr Robert Richardson outside the first shop .
Idiom: stand someone in good stead (used idiomatically: yes)
That 's the team of management that I , together with one or two others , built up from scratch at the beginning of the Liberal Democrats , and we now in Stockport have a highly successful erm m As I say , tier of management for training , for campaigning , for policy development in Stockport , and as you probably know we do have a good record of winning local council seats . We do do things well , generally speaking , in Stockport . And I 've been the leader of of that party for the last four and half years , I am ready to step down from that , and ready to take up this challenge , and I believe that those experiences , and what I 've done there , will stand me in good stead . Because some of the time the candidate has to be some of the other things as well . You 'll want other people to be you campaign manager , your agent , your press agent and whatever .
Idiom: show the flag (used idiomatically: yes)
The large fishing vessels we saw were all well maintained with modern equipment . The friendly community there all appeared to be fishermen or on some way connected with that industry . We found it altogether an extremely fascinating place to wander around , but not much revenue work for us apart from " showing the flag " . Then it was northwards again heading across the more open stretches of sea towards Colgrave Sound , the rather dark and forbidding cliffs of Fetlar on the starboard bow with the low lying Out Skerries islands well out to the east . It was hard to believe that most of these islands were populated and we often caught glimpses of island ferries plying industriously between lonely rockbound piers .
Idiom: go downhill (used idiomatically: yes)
they 'll be right . So What did you make of this number ten then ? I think first part to it , but then er it seemed to go downhill so to speak . So you had a formula you had a formula for calculating the value . I have n't read the question I saw V equals and I thought it was velocity .
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ The first time people see it they react with goggle - eyed wonder . No one has ever refused to go up , but there have been a few that needed coaxing down!’ Mark and Cynthia 's plans for dinner are up in the air ‘ When the fire brigade moved out — I moved in’ Hilda Eaton 's home was once the snooker room of Vale Royal District Council 's fire station , where her husband Percy used to work .
Idiom: have a few (used idiomatically: yes)
PUTTING ACRYLIC TO THE TEST But the proof lies in the painting . I had a few pictures unfinished and decided to finish one or two . With fresh water in the chip pan and a clean brush palette , I got started . The brushes responded to the way I work very well .
Idiom: born and bred (used idiomatically: yes)
Anyway , there she was , a pert little fourteen - year - old following the action in her score and pointing out all the wrong notes , mistaken entries and interpretative lapses to her doting mamma . They cost a hell of a lot , these Oxford prodigies , but it 's worth every penny . The effect is even more telling than the BMW , because while anyone with the necessary can buy one of those , these kiddies are not just paid for but born and bred as well . In short , they 're advertisements not just for your financial status , but for your impeccable intellectual and social credentials . When Rebecca Kraemer remarked , as the last murmurs of the slow movement died away , that it was such a pity the conductor was still following the now - discredited Haas edition , she was telling everyone within earshot — which included half the audience — everything that Alison could have wanted them to know but naturally would n't have dreamt of mentioning herself .
Idiom: against the grain (used idiomatically: yes)
Not entirely . The skew chisel is well known , and though not manufactured in recent times , the skew gouge has been utilised as a modification . The baroque carvers in Germany and France made extensive use of this type of gouge in the drapery of their ecclesiastical figures , enabling them to make difficult pipes and folds against the grain , whilst keeping a smooth flow . Gothic carvers also ground normal gouges to skew shapes in order that they may execute mitres where two deeply curved sections meet . Woodcarvers through the ages have adapted , and even mutilated standard tools to suit their needs .
Idiom: eat humble pie (used idiomatically: yes)
I expected to find a privileged crew , tolerating me for some positive press . But the members were a genuinely friendly and open bunch — covering the social spectrum from plumber to proper ty developer and secretary to landowner . And along with their stirrup cups , they were all eating humble pie . Captain Fred Barker is Senior Master with the hunt , a man who has hunted for 44 years . ‘ The terrible publicity of last year has made us more aware of our public image,’ he said .
Idiom: have the last laugh (used idiomatically: yes)
A tug - o'-war ensued and suddenly the rope came — unzipping all those carefully placed runners like a thumb through a banana skin . My partner almost ran across the traverse as if to depart a potential trouble spot before it was aware of his passage . The trouble was , neither of us had been here before and Holyhead Mountain in the gathering gloom emphatically had the last laugh . It was 10.00pm when we finally found our car . A pale autumnal sun played over Etive as I gazed up the beckoning folds of Spartan Slab with another partner , watching the leisurely antics of an American climber and his female ropemate on this classic VS .
Idiom: wear the trousers (used idiomatically: yes)
STROUD / Gloucestershire The man is aged between twenty five and fifty years old , five feet ten inches tall , of slim build , with prominent front teeth . He was wearing a brown knitted jumper and khaki trousers . It 's been a bad day for industry in the region . The Rover Group has announced a six - month pay freeze at its plants in Cowley and Swindon , because of the decline in the motor industry .
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: yes)
There is evidence that there is such a bias ( Satz , 1979 ) . This is due probably to the fact that people suffering from aphasia are more likely to come to the attention of a neurologist than individuals suffering from certain kinds of right hemisphere damage which may pass unnoticed by the individual himself such that he does not seek medical attention or is not referred for neurological investigation . Levy ( 1974a ) suggests as a solution to the problem of bias that one should estimate dominance proportions from the relative frequency of left and right sided lesions among non - aphasic brain - damaged patients . Using this method and the data of Goodglass and Quadfasel ( 1954 ) she estimates language laterality in left handers to be predominantly or exclusively left - sided in 60 per cent of cases and right sided in approximately 40 per cent . These proportions are not , in fact , significantly different , statistically speaking , from the proportions based on the same series and calculated according to methods 2 and 3 above , which each give estimates of 53 per cent left hemisphere speech among left handers .
Idiom: hot air (used idiomatically: yes)
Her romantic self - projection is pared away to reveal a character at once complacent , grasping , disingenuous and manipulative … . Her successes are dismissed as tawdry , her claims to original exploration comprehensively deflated . Mrs Izzard pictures Freya as a hot air balloon , ‘ rising … over the fierce Arab lands , sustained by its own emissions and the gullibility of others’.’ Mrs Spurling added : ‘ But this arresting image takes no account of the fact that Freya 's was essentially an imaginative achievement . Her books deal in changing perceptions rather than unalterable truths , and she herself was perhaps her most imaginative achievement … .
Idiom: break ranks (used idiomatically: yes)
Such firms may act overtly ( and illegally ) or covertly ( still illegally , but hard to detect ) as if they were in a monopoly situation . Agreements or understandings could cover price - fixing and/or sharing out the available work without resorting to competition ( which would have resulted in lower prices ) . In order for the agreement to stick , no single firm must break ranks , encouraged by the prospect of greater market share by lowering its price , or else a free - for - all may develop producing a competitive price , as if the market had been operating smoothly . The operation of such a price - fixing agreement can be seen in the way that the price of oil has been fixed by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC ) cartel . High prices were maintained from 1974 onwards in the face of inelastic demand for oil from oil - importing countries , but an oil glut in the 1980s put pressure on individual countries to reduce their prices in order to gain market share .
Idiom: at sea (used idiomatically: yes)
I think wind power is perhaps one of the alternative energy sources which is erm nearest to being able to be applied and utilised immediately . However , if you consider one large modern power station , that would require approximately one thousand windmills each the size of the largest electricity pylons we see these days , and since the best sites for wind energy are on hilltops , where the wind is strongest , or around the coast , where again it 's strong , this would require placing large numbers of windmills on the best hilltop views or beautiful coasting situations , and I think that would be as unacceptable as would an explosion in nuclear power stations — sorry , I do n't mean a — expansion in nuclear power stations . Of course , windmills could be placed offshore , then perhaps there might be something attractive to seeing these structures out at sea at some distance — they could even be beyond the horizon — but they thought that they are whirling round usefully providing our energy I think could make them acceptable , and there is no doubt that the worldwide research and success in windmill research at the moment would suggest that wind power is within sight , but the economic investment and the problems of siting certainly mean that it will be only introduced gradually . We should do that one again . Do you want to talk again about windmills ?
Idiom: for my money (used idiomatically: no)
astonish me ! And erm I find I get more value for my money though , cos it lasts me longer . The stuff I buy from Marks 's is always good quality . Yeah .
Idiom: in Dutch (used idiomatically: yes)
Yet somehow , and despite the Prince 's easy nature , no such friendship had developed . The Prince found something subtly annoying about Sharpe 's sardonic face , and he even suspected that the Englishman was deliberately trying to annoy him . He must have asked Sharpe a score of times to dress in Dutch uniform , yet still the Rifleman appeared in his ancient , tattered green coat . That was when Sharpe bothered to show himself at the Prince 's headquarters at all ; he evidently preferred to spend his days riding the French frontier which was a job that properly belonged to the pompous General Dornberg , which thought reminded the Prince that Dornberg 's noon report should have arrived . That report had a special importance this day for , if any trouble threatened , the Prince knew he could not afford to go dancing in Brussels .
Idiom: drop the ball (used idiomatically: no)
His attitude to any form of authority was irreverent to say the least , and a story still went the rounds of how , at the age of fifteen , he won a sporting scholarship to a relatively new and very expensive boarding school . When he arrived with his parents for the interview the headmaster took him to a field where a few golf holes were laid out , handed him a wedge and a bucket of balls , and told Jack to hit some shots at one of the greens while he organised some tea for his parents . Jack hit a few shots and when the headmaster had disappeared around the corner he strolled down to the green and dropped three or four balls into the hole ' just to make sure ' . But Jack always gave good value and , apart from winning the British Boys ' Golf Championship , he played rugby , cricket and tennis for the school and even managed to play county tennis as well . Like most intelligent sportsmen , his was a complicated psychology which was highly tuned to provide feasible excuses for not winning every week .
Idiom: on the horns of a dilemma (used idiomatically: yes)
Christ ! I found myself looking at toupees the other day , horrible things , rat skins ! ' ' My son , ' said Alex , ' you are on the horns of a dilemma . ' ' And they are digging holes in me britches , which were n't very thick to start with , ' said Derek mournfully . It was time for more cappuccino and a cheering change of topic .
Idiom: play to the gallery (used idiomatically: yes)
But so often the challenge is not met and the result is a wishy - washy moral parable . ‘ So you see , children , the moral of the story is that if you are good then God will be pleased … ’ Worse is the sacrifice of theological integrity for the sake of playing to the gallery . The common fault of children 's stories is that they grab the attention with some device , amuse thoroughly , but end up answering no questions . What is the good of having Rod Hull 's Emu in the pulpit if he buries his head in the theological sands .
Idiom: one of those days (used idiomatically: no)
ON the edge of limestone country , Ease Gill is classic limestone : at its lower end it is a dry " alley with an impressive cavernous " kirk " , and further upstream it has the waterfall at Cow Dub where the beck leaves a pure white flowstone bed to drop twenty feet through a collapsed cavern into a deep pool where it is again cupped in limestone . The gill is easy walking and leads up on to Crag Hill , which is near my home in the Dales , so one day , throwing work to one side , I cadged a lift down Barbondale to Blind Beck Bridge and set off in bright sunshine up the track to Bullpot Farm and Bull pot of the Witches . It was midwinter but one of those strange warm days that seemed to come from nowhere to tell you that spring is n't really far away . The bracken on Barkin Fell was the colour of new rust and the sky over Barbon Manor a deep blue . The manor always looks out of place to me , a Victorian shooting lodge built in the style of a German castle for the wealthy Kay Shuttleworth family .
Idiom: have words (used idiomatically: yes)
A queue had formed by the table holding the teacakes and a crowd gathered to watch the animal sacrifice slowly rotating on a giant spit . That looks like Otley standing behind the teacakes . I 'll go over and have a word with him . I pushed my way through the munching hordes , ice - cream , gingerbread men , toffee apples and potato crisps parted to let me pass . Jilly 's Jazz Band trod the riverside path playing ' My Old Man 's a Dustman ' and pursued by barking dogs .
Idiom: pull the plug (used idiomatically: yes)
There are more dog cards than you shake a stick at yet the bookies are peddling this tripe from South Africa through the morning . Now in the first race the ten fifty , number nine is called Jew Wanna Bet Now when you hear that mentioned in the betting shops go no and pull the plugs out of the television . We do not want to bet thank you very much on South African racing , we 've got quite enough of our own without the bookies . I like South Africa .