Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: out of line (used idiomatically: yes)
Instead , they got themselves into a thoroughly embarrassing mess , saying they accepted Gatting 's statement that nothing improper had taken place but sacking him all the same . Since the logic of this eluded most people , it seemed reasonable to conclude that he was belatedly paying the price for arguing with an umpire . England captains must not do things like that , but they had not been able to sack him at the time because of the provocation he had been under ; now that he had stepped out of line again he gave them a heaven - sent opportunity to administer the axe . The rights and wrongs of it were debated for some time and the feeling seemed to be that the TCCB had come out of it in a worse light than Gatting ; as the Melbourne newspaper The Age put it , ‘ Gatting , caught rumour , bowled hypocrisy , 0’ . It meant that the Test career of a man aged just 31 , who still had a great deal to offer his country , was almost over ; true , it would be terminated by his own decision to go to South Africa , but this came about only because of his disillusion with cricket 's establishment .
Idiom: cut a dash (used idiomatically: yes)
Whenever there is a puzzling development in physics which seems for a while to put in question our basic understanding , you will hear someone say " I have the feeling that it 's 1925 all over again . " There is a wistful note in such a comment . The speaker feels — and do n't we all ? — that if he had been around then he might have had the good fortune to cut a greater dash in the subject than he is succeeding in doing in present circumstances . Be that as it may , though many exciting things have happened to physics in the interim , there has not been another time since 1925 when the foundations have been shaken , the paradigm shifted , our view of the world transformed . The quantum theory created then has proved adequate for all that has so far followed it .
Idiom: tie the knot (used idiomatically: no)
It is used almost exclusively by Caucasian and Anatolian weaving groups and also by several in Persia , particularly in the north - west of the country . There is no foolproof way of determining if a Turkish knot has been used , but a fair indication can be obtained by looking at the back of the rug . If two loops or mumps are visible across the warp on which the knot has been tied , the Turkish knot has probably been employed . Jufti knot Vastly inferior knot produced by tying the pile yarn around four or more warp strands , rather than the customary two .
Idiom: look the other way (used idiomatically: no)
' So we go for it , ' he says . He crosses to his wall safe . ' Look the other way , please . ' Dixie and I turn obediently away . It is n't necessary , because Carmichael shields the combination lock with his body .
Idiom: think twice (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ If I was to praise the girls in the post office , being Irish they would have to cut them down to size,’ Moran argued . ‘ Since I did n't give them any praise , Annie and Lizzie had to do the praising instead . That way they think twice as much of the girls than if I had praised them myself.’ He was very pleased with his own astuteness . ‘ It would have been better if he had praised us no matter what anyone said,’ Sheila said when the girls were alone with Rose , disappointed that he had failed to support them in public no matter what his intentions were .
Idiom: hold someone's hand (used idiomatically: no)
as if by way of explanation that a cousin of hers should be married to a bailiff , she now added , ' My cousin was very young when she married . Her husband is from a good family ; in fact he is distantly connected with the Crane - Boulder 's family , but … but he was the youngest son , and you know what positions go to the younger sons . ' She held out her hand , palm upwards now , and moved her head slowly as she looked at Aggie as if she were talking to a friend who would understand that a cousin of hers had not married beneath her . And then she went on , ' They live in the grounds . Not in the lodge ; it is a very nice , large house .
Idiom: bite the bullet (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ But Mrs Goreng,’ the German said with a mild surprise that only a paranoiac could think assumed , ‘ you do n't have to ask , surely ? You are also a journalist.’ Well , she had to bite the bullet . They got what they wanted . Monsignor was only too pleased to receive them .
Idiom: man of god (used idiomatically: yes)
Some felt a shudder at the thought of tackling the sense of humour of the Prophet Muhammad and the holy imams of Islam , and counselled that the subject matter should be confined to modern times . Others , however , felt a similar shudder at the thought of telling and discussing the political jokes about contemporary leaders of the modern Arab World and advised me to confine myself to the days of the Prophet and the early imams . After all , these are men of God and are guided by his spirit of indulgence and forgiveness . They are , furthermore , dead and buried and have no recourse to the revenge squads despatched from the Middle East to the four corners of the world . Yet , a full picture of Arab political humour truly reflecting the psychology , thought and politics of the Arab peoples can not be adequately drawn without covering the entire span of Arab history , at least from the rise of Islam .
Idiom: muddy the waters (used idiomatically: yes)
When the House of Commons foreign affairs committee published its report on Hong Kong soon afterwards , it set democratisation as an urgent priority . Emboldened by its example , Hong Kong 's Legislative Councillors decided that not less than half their number should be directly elected in 1995 , and the rest 10 years later ; they later scaled the first figure down to 40 per cent , to win the suport of more conservative interest groups . Rather than risk a clash between the Cha and Legislative Council models , China has opted to muddy the waters by indicating support for proposals unexpectedly advanced last month by Lo Tak - shing , of the New Hong Kong Alliance , for a ‘ bicameral’ legislature , in which directly elected seats would account for half of a single house . Since Chinese officials have also said recently that there will be few major alterations to the Basic Law between its interim and final drafts , their intention may be to declare that proliferation of ideas about political reform indicates an absence of consensus in Hong Kong , and leave Mr Cha 's proposal in place . But they could equally well deem Mr Lo 's proposals to enjoy popular support — since Mr Lo is , as it happens , vice - chairman of China 's own Basic Law Consultative Committee — and adopt those instead .
Idiom: on someone's mind (used idiomatically: no)
We also courted the private sector for £ 370,000 . We used numerous tactics trying to engage their support and tried to enlist the help of the Prime Minister , the Royal Family , the Scottish Office and as Helen Martin said ‘ If we had known the address of the man up above ( God ) we would have wrote to him as well.’ Unfortunately the Glasgow District Council had other priorities on their mind . After all , they were about to host the 1990 European City of Culture , an award which the tenants in Glasgow felt they richly deserved . The only problem was that we were not trying to promote it .
Idiom: have an eye for (used idiomatically: yes)
Achievers Achievers turn their jobs into profit - making opportunities The Profitboss surrounds himself with achievers : Frankie Dockertz who achieves the most efficient warehouse operation in the region , Liz Mills who has eyes for selecting the best sales people in the country , Betty Boyd who provides the most reliable administrative back - up in the company . And there are others , too — like Sue Galloway , perhaps the friendliest receptionist anywhere . The customers love her .
Idiom: make a go of (used idiomatically: yes)
You might say that if this is a problem it is a problem of their own making , a problem that they could avoid simply by changing their habits and hunting by day . But the daytime economy is already heavily exploited by other creatures such as birds . Given that there is a living to be made at night , and given that alternative daytime trades are thoroughly occupied , natural selection has favoured bats that make a go of the night - hunting trade . It is probable , by the way , that the nocturnal trades go way back in the ancestry of all us mammals . In the time when the dinosaurs dominated the daytime economy , our mammalian ancestors probably only managed to survive at all because they found ways of scraping a living at night .
Idiom: rule of thumb (used idiomatically: yes)
One might pay more for a private company because a pre - acquisition investigation could be more thorough . ( vii ) Double check of valuation using ‘ rules of thumb’ Most businesses would be valued on either an earnings or asset or dividend yield basis as appropriate but there are certain ‘ rules of thumb’ or key features which one may use as a ‘ double check’to confirm the reasonableness of the determined value . These are outlined below for certain businesses .
Idiom: give head (used idiomatically: yes)
Oh it was great . I tell you what , I never used to shag her hardly at all . She used to like giving head so much I used to fucking right drop them yup slurp that was it . It was fucking gobble you off in the kitchen with me parents upstairs and stuff like that . You did it without?fucking mad .
Idiom: give someone the slip (used idiomatically: yes)
You can not get rid of Jesus Christ that easily . You can not do it . One poet wrote a poem called the Hound of Hell in which he pictures Francis Thompson , the na name of the poet , in which he he pictures Je , er God pursuing men and women down through the corridors and labyrinths of time , down throughout their life , relentlessly pursuing and no matter how much you try and give God the slip , there he is , he will pursue you , he will seek you out , he desires to to ca , for you to come to know him , and you can not get rid of God that easily ! You can not chase Jesus Christ away easily . He is not easily put off .
Idiom: game on (used idiomatically: yes)
fjortoft has not scored a single goal in the premiership yet ( he kept them coming at a very steady rate at rapid vienna ( under manager Hans Krankl — one of my favorite strikers — favorite striker of all times has to be Der Bomber , Gerd Muller , who scored something like 60 goals in 50 internationals ! did he in fact score against us in our 2–0 defeat vs Bayern Munich?))— i guess Fjortoft has problems adjusting to the english play and swindon is not the best of teams anyway . and Strandli has scored some — but not this season … if i can use a div 1 player ( bohinen , forest — tech wonder boy with amazing goals and great moves as a speciality — scored the most memorable goal of my life up to date against italy when we beat them at home 2–1 in the EC qual game on june 5th 1991 — world class defender baresi was on his way to the corner flag — outclassed by a bohinen move — when bohinen put the ball under Walter Zenga — i attended the game and had the perfect seat for that goal — hmm — i got a little carried away here , ehh?;- ) ) thorstvedt - berg , nilsen , pedersen , bjornebye - halle , ingebrigtsen , bohinen , flostrandli , fjortoft would then be my team . subs : lydersen , johnsen ( erland of chelsea — not ronny who was linked with leeds )
Idiom: on cloud nine (used idiomatically: yes)
Chairman Colin Willcocks said : ‘ The thieves probably did not realise all the takings were removed . But we shall be ready for the next meeting.’ Niall is on cloud nine A HIGH - flying romantic proposed to his girlfriend in a private plane , 2,000 ft in the air . Niall Taylor , 33 , of Billingham , Cleveland , persuaded Carol Kennedy to go flying after saying he had won the trip on the four - seater Cessna in a raffle .
Idiom: against the grain (used idiomatically: yes)
Basil could read with ease the natural image - making of children and was in fact deeply knowledgeable and perceptive about the developmental stages of children 's drawings . This understanding enabled him to make sound judgements in selecting the work of young children for display to teachers , revealing its natural qualities for them to recognise . Basil built up a strong healthy tradition in Primary Art in West Riding schools , slowly and firmly , and in so doing never worked against the natural grain of childhood . How vital it is that those influential in the field possess this necessary understanding of children 's imagery and how they learn through what they draw and construct . Basil 's success iii the Secondary field resulted from his undoubted gift in selecting and encouraging the teachers he appointed , the provision of sound basic specialist facilities , and , perhaps , most significantly through his enlightened In - service programmes .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
The spectre of restraint of trade rears its ugly head . The issue is far from closed . JIM COURIER and Pete Sampras ( top ) lost their opening round - robin match against Darren Cahill and Mark Kratzman in the eight - team Nabisco Masters doubles championship at the Royal Albert Hall yesterday , but they are tipped to make an impact on the doubles game , writes Martin James . As juniors the two American teenagers were mentioned in the same breath as Andre Agassi and Michael Chang as singles players , but neither has made quite the same impact as yet . Sampras will finish the year in 81st place , Courier a more respectable 24th , but in doubles they have eclipsed their more renowned contemporaries and deserved to qualify for the Masters when Ken Flach and Robert Seguso were forced to withdraw at the last minute .
Idiom: lie low (used idiomatically: no)
The draft report of IPCC Working Group I on the effects of climatic change [ see p. 37268]was published on May 25 . This presented the unanimous view of the working group ( consisting of leading climatologists ) , based on nine computer models , that average global temperatures would be between 1.4 and 2.8 degrees centigrade above pre - industrial levels by the year 2030 . It estimated that up to 10,000,000 people would have to be moved from low - lying coastal areas of East Anglia ( UK ) , Bangladesh and the Netherlands , or that an immediate start would have to be made on building 360,000 km of sea defences to protect them . Otherwise large tracts of land would be lost to the sea . This was the first of three IPCC reports being prepared for the UN environment conference to be held in Geneva in November 1990 .
Idiom: in the blink of an eye (used idiomatically: yes)
He smiled thinly as his personal dislike of the arrogant black overcame his veneer of polite obedience . ' Tell me , did you foresee this in your cards ? ' In the blink of an eye , Richmann drew the Steyr and shot Henri between the eyes . Henri swayed on his feet for a moment , though he was already dead , then toppled over . ' Evidently not .
Idiom: against the grain (used idiomatically: yes)
Cultural Studies would provide a more productive environment for the radical aca - English Departments , who have conspicuous energy and intelligence , but little literary sensibility or aesthetic interests . Literature , when taught in such a context , would , no doubt , be given a culturalist and contextualist treatment , and I believe that there is nothing inherently objectionable about this . But I am also attracted by Graff 's suggestion that those who favoured a ' literary ' , aesthetic , affective way of reading would then experience the satisfaction of working against the prevailing grain . Once established , ' Cultural Studies ' might show structural affinities with Social Studies and move closer to that area . It might also become dominated by Marxists and cultural materialists , but not inevitably so ; academic sociology offers points of comparison here .
Idiom: under the table (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ After all , there may be danger.’ ‘ That 's quite all right,’ Bernice said , frowning . ‘ When you 've drunk the crew of a Grinch pirate skiff under the table , there 's precious little you ca n't do . Besides , I think Miles has already made up his mind.’ While they had been talking , the Administrator had slipped quietly from the room .
Idiom: crystal clear (used idiomatically: yes)
Britain appears to have been the pioneer in ‘ electrophonic’ transmission to homes , but there had been earlier experimental transmissions in the US and France . And today 's young hi - fi enthusiasts may be astonished to learn that the Paris Theatrophone transmitted performances from the Opera , the Opera Comique and Theatre Francais to the Paris Exhibition of 1881 in stereo ! This is made crystal clear in a somewhat laboured exposition in a book by Preece and Maier published in 1889 : Let us suppose the two microphonic transmitters are placed on the stage at T and T 1 , and these transmitters separately connected by two distinct wires to two telephone receivers , R and R 1 , which are applied to both ears to hear the actor , whom we will suppose to be placed at A. It is easy to understand that , the distance of this actor from transmitter T being less than that from transmitter T 1 , his song will be more distinctly reproduced by transmitter T than by T 1 , and the stronger impression will be produced on the left ear . If , on the contrary , the singer changes his position to A 1 , the opposite result will be obtained and the right ear will receive the stronger impression . The sensation produced will , therefore , be a change of sonorous intensity from one ear to the other , consequent upon the displacement of the sound or of the singer from right to left , and the sane will he the case for several actors crossing one another on the stage .
Idiom: fill someone's shoes (used idiomatically: yes)
Despite all , he was able to grin , his white teeth gleaming through the shaggy beard . ‘ Do n't worry , Shae , I 'm sure he 'll return to the fold too . In any case , young Gavin can always fill his shoes if he does n't appear — he 's been acting as understudy . I was a lot more worried about you — versatile I might be , but I 'd never have been able to do the make - up you 've created!’ Since it was Dane 's name on the hoardings which had sold out the theatre on opening night and for several weeks to come , Josh 's kindness brought a painful lump to her throat , and she could only gaze at him in mute gratitude .
Idiom: have a few (used idiomatically: yes)
go on put your bike away right take your shoes off maybe she 's got a bug or something , that 's what I had a few weeks ago remember , mm , mm , oh and then to cap it all did she tell you she spoke to me about that erm
Idiom: have it easy (used idiomatically: no)
And eventually they understood that , so now I can kiss them , hug them and be open with them . ‘ A’ comes round quite a lot to get her eyebrows done and she was quite hurt when she found out that she was n't my type —‘what 's the matter with me?’ I think I 've had it easy but it was hard at the time . I treasure my friendships , even the basic kinds of relationship . They are all individuals to me , there 's something about each of them that I love .
Idiom: dead wood (used idiomatically: yes)
What transpires around the 4th and 15th should give a much clearer picture of what needs to be done . Some of your future arrangements are no longer viable and you may be losing out on what is attainable by resolutely refusing to change your outlook . Even if the full Moon in Libra and at the mid- heaven point of your solar chart on the 10th brings about a complete break from the past , both professionally and personally , it will remove the dead wood which has prevented you from living life to its very fullest . Aquarius * ( 21 January to 19 February ) You appear to be experiencing a similar situation to the one which occurred last October .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: no)
On the top board are military relations among states , with the US the world 's only superpower with global reach . Here the world is uni - polar . On the middle board are economic relations , where the world is already multi - polar .
Idiom: on the house (used idiomatically: no)
If you do close then it will pretty conclusively solve my dilemma about whether or not I could have afforded to tap 50 quid out of my grant for a subscription next term . ' Have ten bloody subscriptions — free ! On the house ! ' you are probably mumbling to yourself as you polish off the bottle of Jim Beam meant for the 15 April issue winner . Well , if you want something to drink to , this one will make you laugh — I was actually nurturing the idea of working for you one day . Cheers !
Idiom: rock bottom (used idiomatically: yes)
TELL you what , Test Match Special may have celebrated its being saved for the nation by ditching Don Mosey . But one of the reasons the jowl - wobbling old curmudgeon will certainly be missed at the microphone this season is that he , above all , made a decent , straightforward reporter 's fist of identifying the tourists on the field . The bad form reached a giggling rock - bottom last year in Sri Lanka 's Test match at Lord 's when the difficulties of both pronunciation and identification proved insurmountable to most in the box . Why ? The leading soccer and horserace commentators , with sometimes far more difficult foreign names coming at them at full pelt out of the fog , seem to manage wordperfectly and not give up the ghost in a surfeit of sniggers .
Idiom: cut and thrust (used idiomatically: yes)
When he retired as chairman of British Aerospace in the summer of 1987 , Pearce had spent forty - two years in industry , all but ten weeks in management , which must make him something of an authority on the subject . He also underwent the unique experience of being asked by successive governments to take a hand in both the nationalisation of British Aerospace and its subsequent return to the private sector . He has thus learned what qualities are necessary to run a business both under the bureaucratic yoke of government red tape and in the cut and thrust of the world of international competition . Yet he started his career with a very modest ambition . In his last year at Devonport High School in Plymouth he set himself the aim of finding a job which would earn him £ 5 a week , because up to that time , his father , a Westcountryman , had never achieved such a princely sum .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: yes)
my slippers Yeah shoes , we have n't sorted out shoes yet have we ? Shoes'll go in the boot bag , in the ski bags Right er
Idiom: one and the same (used idiomatically: no)
Both user and non - user end up searching at the shelves . The latter initiates the search at the shelves and the former completes the search at the shelves . There may be some value in examining not only the differences between the two approaches but also the common ground since each is part of one and the same process . The catalogue is a tool or an aid to searching . To observe searching behaviour solely at the catalogue may provide a distorted picture of the task in hand .
Idiom: get a grip (used idiomatically: yes)
This side ? This side , yeah , or that side ? That looks better , that 's got a better grip though . Would you reckon out of ten , yeah ? Yeah .
Idiom: in bed with (used idiomatically: no)
She was n't sure whether she should tell him the sordid details . ‘ I was looking for the bathroom , and I surprised him — it was an accident . He was in bed — with another girl . So I just left the house . I felt ashamed — embarrassed —’ She pulled away from him , rummaged in her pocket for a handkerchief , and could n't find one .
Idiom: behind the eight ball (used idiomatically: yes)
No ? Or w w shall we say that may be said with a bit of a tongue in cheek ? Do you think that you are you can be sort of erm put behind the eight ball ? You know you you m you might be able be a little bit blameworthy in some instances ? Yes ?