Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
Being late - August , most of the birds had already flown south , though some pairs of kittiwakes remained , crammed together high up on tiny ledges . Two hours later , my foreboding proved right : we saw reindeer , as well as some glaucous gulls and eiders , but not a single fox showed itself . We sat down rather disconsolately on a rock to eat a couple of fun - sized Mars bars while pondering out next move . It was then that we spotted something white moving high up on the cliffs , under a colony of kittiwakes — our first fox . After peering through our binoculars , we decided it was on its way to the lowest ledges to scavenge from the roosting sites .
Idiom: head over heels (used idiomatically: yes)
' Dear child ! ' smiled Elizabeth Mowbray . ' There speaks the voice of youth ! I warrant you will in a twelve - month have forgotten about the prince , and be head - over - heels in love with another — one more suitable , please God ! ' ' With a carpenter perchance ? ' Joan asked resentfully .
Idiom: throw in the towel (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ The race was n't on Baydon Star 's agenda and we 'll just have to see,’ he said . Nicholson 's horses have been in sparkling form this season since he moved to his new yard and Baydon Star was sent off a surprisingly generous 13 - 8 favourite . As early leader Diamond Cut quickly threw in the towel three out , Sweet Duke and Baydon Star went clear . But Richard Dunwoody always appeared to be going the best and Baydon Star was a comfortable four - length winner , with the third horse Mailcom 30 lengths away . Nicholson , however , was refusing to get carried away .
Idiom: come of age (used idiomatically: yes)
Beginnings ( very late ) of perplexities about life , why , wherefore and where to … Father suggests I should go to New Zealand for change and practical training in the leather business — six weeks voyage — Doctor in agreement . I come of age . I sail for New Zealand . Sydney brings me in contact with Theosophy ; I meet my first love .
Idiom: over the moon (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Something for the MEDAU NEWS , please write it if you would — Not too long and not too short — we know you 'll make it good!’ So specified our Editor , who has the Big Red Pen ; I 'll therefore try to keep it brief — she can not edit it then ! Our Rally was just super — more people than before — But what they did n't know was that they had a treat in store : The National Display Team came for the afternoon To show their special item — we were all over the moon ! Our Workshop Day at Marlow as well attended too ; Class embers came from far and wide — a dedicated crew . Chris Markham has a new club now , for children after school , So you see we 're pretty busy — and that 's generally the rule .
Idiom: streets ahead (used idiomatically: yes)
Simon Wright , their No . 8 , was lost along the way which meant that Andy Roda , normally a prop , played on the flank . The sorry plight of an ailing club continued with the news that a supporters ' coach had been involved in a crash and that only 12 youngsters could be rounded up to take on Leicester in a youth match . Sorry times , indeed , for Coventry , whose Midland rivals are streets ahead in strength in depth . Simon Povoas , for example , proved himself an excellent deputy to the injured Dean Richards at No . 8 and the Tigers ticked along despite the absence also of Les Cusworth , Paul Dodge and John Wells . Rugby Union : Irish amble after scramble
Idiom: dead and buried (used idiomatically: no)
Inevitably it was raining . Frank Arbuthnot was missing . Harvey agreed with Brownlow on balance that he was most likely dead and buried . It was n't his brief to find him . But Claire Fraser was out there and he had undertaken to find her and persuade her to come home .
Idiom: Pyrrhic victory (used idiomatically: yes)
As a result of the Guinness trial the Securities and Investments Board , the watch dog body with overall responsibility for policing the financial community , is abandoning its complicated rule books for a more broad - brush approach . So if it achieved anything of lasting value , the sheer slog of the marathon Guinness trial clearly underlined the shortcomings of the present system and showed why reform was necessary . Guinness I did represent a Pyrrhic victory for the SFO : after six months of evidence and five days of deliberations the jury found all four defendants guilty . Saunders was sentenced to five years ' imprisonment but in the event he served only ten months having been released on the grounds that he was suffering from a dementia condition akin to Alzheimer 's disease . This condition has now cleared allowing him to work as a lecturer on City ethics and a consultant .
Idiom: up in the air (used idiomatically: yes)
Dan 's going for it he thinks yeah he , he is n't , he 's a bit , up in the air I think at the moment , he does n't know what he wants to do I do n't think I mean I keep on saying if I found I could n't do the maths I 'd ditched I would n't go on
Idiom: put paid to (used idiomatically: yes)
We have a design for a more efficient vane shape but production problems have stifled that . No , it seems that the drifter will remain for the time being in the form of the original although we will keep working on it . Of course , the advent of the remote controlled boat may even put paid to any drifter development . I , for one , am not sure if I am in favour of remote boats , it may just be me getting older and , therefore , less responsive to new ideas and gadgets . As some old timers could not accept the hair rig when it first came out , maybe we all have our own point at which progress ( ? ) becomes unacceptable and remote boats maybe my watershed .
Idiom: take something as read (used idiomatically: yes)
Some physical geographers have perceived the need for adjustment of fundamental outlooks and Bowen ( 1979 , p. 167 ) suggested : Outmoded models are still conventional wisdom and in geomorphology there are signs that , rather than face the new realities , there is a retreat into the more rarefied atmosphere of conceptual model - building and complex correlation structure diagrams . Or alternatively the new situation is completely ignored and the time - space mesh contracted to such a degree that landform is almost taken as read and interest is , instead , directed at hydrological matters relating to the transmission of water and sediment across land - surfaces which look increasingly like the isotropic ones of human geographers . Similarly Andrews and Miller ( 1980 ) have argued that the importance of chronology is frequently overlooked and/or understressed in many geomorphological studies and that The dominance of studies on modern processes in the field of geomorphological methods needs to be balanced by the longer perspective that falls traditionally within the area of Quaternary geology and geomorphology …
Idiom: from the word go (used idiomatically: yes)
Guitarist The Edge took the mike to give us ‘ Numb’ , while Bono and the rest of the lads took to a satellite stage to deliver the soothing and pulse - filled ‘ The First Time’ . ‘ Fanfare’ , taken from the album ‘ Lenin 's Favourite Songs’ but featured on U2 's latest , was in there too . The vibrant ‘ Zoo Station’ kicked everything off and right from the word go it was going to be something special . The visual impact was incredible . A mass of footage whizzed across the screens .
Idiom: have a few (used idiomatically: yes)
We need some of the younger , newly retired to come and join us in the fight to restore the dignity and security that should be there for everyone in the autumn of their lives . We have had few successes in we have had a few successes in spite of this uncaring government , and feel that it has been worthwhile to protest . We had proved in a recent elections and even in the general election , that where the pensioners ' movement was strong , the election results were more positive for candidates in support of our aims . We thank our union for their support , both morally and financially , and we shall continue to try and build up branches with your help throughout the U K.
Idiom: in light of (used idiomatically: yes)
The distinction had particular reference to article 4 of the Bill of Rights 1688 ( 1 Will . & Mary , sess 2 , c. 2 ) , but I do not consider that this article has any relevance to the present case , being concerned , as it was , with the denial of the right of the executive to levy taxes without the consent of Parliament . Reference was made in the course of the argument to a number of Commonwealth and American decisions , but I have not found in them any reasoning persuasive of a view contrary to that which I have formed in the light of the English and Scottish authorities . Sargood Brothers v. The Commonwealth ( 1910 ) 11 C.L.R. 258 seems to me to be a clear case of extortion colore officii . Mason v. New South Wales , 102 C.L.R. 108 was a case where the ratio decidendi of the majority turned on the principle of duress .
Idiom: come to mind (used idiomatically: yes)
During the rest of the day , try to catch yourself if you have any thoughts or emotions based on your old belief , and remind yourself of your new belief . Also , write your new belief on small cards , which you can place on mirrors , doors , dressing table , fridge , the dashboard of your car , in your diary and so on , as repeated reminders . Or ask your inner wisdom for a symbol of this new belief , accept whatever image comes to mind , and draw this on the cards . Positive thoughts and beliefs ( or ‘ affirmations’ ) and imagery can be used in every area of our lives . Let 's suppose you have an important letter to write — perhaps an application for a job .
Idiom: go straight (used idiomatically: yes)
So you 've , is there then a choice between going for socialism now , going straight into collectivization or delaying it and keeping that end product in sight ? But as you say changing the means to the end , I E you go for the industrialization first and once you 've got that you can then move forward to collectivization . Well I did n't think they could 've gone straight into socialization because they did n't have the resources to . Right . They had to improve the productivity
Idiom: come clean (used idiomatically: yes)
In fact , we urged the Government to seek resolutions when they were not always willing . I should be a good deal more impressed with the Government 's determination to deal with weapons of mass destruction in Iraq if they did not have such questionable record on assisting Iraq to obtain a nuclear capability . The Government still have not come clean about the information revealed in a Select Committee appendix . I wrote to the Secretary of State , and my right hon . and hon . Friends wrote to the Prime Minister , but we have not received a reply . Nor have the Government responded to reports in Conservative newspapers such as The Times and The Sunday Times which were apparently augmented by evidence brought back from Iraq by United Nations inspectors , and the details of which were plastered all over those newspapers .
Idiom: on the rocks (used idiomatically: yes)
In May 1528 , while Angus was away , James disguised himself as a groom and made a dash for Stirling . With supporters opposed to the Douglas braggarts he set off towards Tantallon castle , where Angus had precipitately fled on learning that the king was loose and in vengeful mood . Built to last by William Douglas , at a time when the family was in high favour because of its support of Robert the Bruce , the massive red sandstone ruins of Tantallon on its seagirt rock above the mouth of the Forth look virtually unassailable even today . In its prime the solid curtain - walled castle could not have been taken by storm up the sheer cliffs rising from the sea on three sides ; and a deep ditch hewn from the rock on the landward side made any surprise attack on the gatehouse or drum towers improbable . Even though James V had brought artillery with him to pound the walls , it made little impression , and in the end the besiegers ran out of gunpowder .
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Good afternoon , Miss Jacqui.’ She turned to see a tall athletic man smiling at her . Dressed in an English Savile Row suit he was probably the most handsome man she 'd ever set eyes on . He possessed striking grey eyes , a firm jawline , and the most divine smile . In spite of all her worldliness and sophistication , Jacqui 's heart missed a beat .
Idiom: around the clock (used idiomatically: yes)
For a large down - payment , all your cares dissolve . You move into a group of houses within a walled compound , provided with all the security services you require . Guards on the gates around the clock . Lights that burn all night . These places are reminiscent of medieval walled villages where the night watch called the hours , and the look - out scanned the countryside for invading mercenaries of yet another papal army .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: yes)
Let them watch the Masters in action and re - live Fred Couples ' thrilling victory earlier this year on the Augusta Masters video from The Video Collection ( £ 10.99 ) . 18 Golfers can store their clubs in the latest in luxury — multi - coloured golf bags from Sun Mountain Sports ( 0622 - 820519 ) for £ 70 . Great Escapes Sarah Whitfield King
Idiom: up a tree (used idiomatically: yes)
After five minutes of rapid chasing , Fitz had isolated a large group of adolescent colobus , and all the chimps in the trees started making the typical exciting hunting barks . Macho and Ulysse were by this time standing upright , concentrating on the movements of the colobus high up in the trees . The monkeys jumped south to avoid Fitz , but Macho was there and rushed up a tree to block the route , while Ulysse , anticipating Macho 's move , rushed into a tree east of both Fitz and Macho . Pressed by Macho , the colobus jumped into Ulysse 's tree , and then into the one guarded by Fitz , who , with an impressive rush , caught the colobus . By then more females were following the hunt from the ground , and all screamed at the top of their voices .
Idiom: all along (used idiomatically: yes)
Hundreds of workers have been sacked , the convener and deputy convener victimized , while millions of pounds went out to private contractors . Now , there 's nothing new for people who work for Labour Authorities and Local Authorities in general in that story , new at all . What 's different about it is that we possess , the G M B London Region , possess sworn statements from managers and ex Chief Officers that conclusively demonstrate that what the trade union has been saying all along , what the G M B 's been saying all along , about victimization , financial mismanagement and corruption , have in ta in fact taken place . That 's what those sworn statements say . Even with this kind of evidence , even with that kind of evidence , almost uniquely good evidence in my experience , the Council leadership , which is in , has been in possession of it for the best part of a month has made no move to suspend any Chief Officer on charges of gross misconduct , which of course if it had been any of our members accused of something like that , they 'd have been down the road instantly , nor has it reinstated any worker wrongly sacked .
Idiom: one of those things (used idiomatically: yes)
Boss Terry Cooper is furious at the Steve Bull tackle that injured Gosney in Blues ' 4 - 0 loss to Wolves on Sunday . Cooper said : ‘ Would you be happy if someone jumped at you with two feet?’ But Gosney admitted : ‘ It was a 50 - 50 ball and one of those things that happens . ‘ I did n't expect him to pull out because the ball was there to go for.’ On tonight 's match , Cooper said : ‘ There 's a lot at stake and it gives us the opportunity to put things right.’
Idiom: in the final analysis (used idiomatically: yes)
In the final analysis , terror is also another proof of the fact that the superpower is not really a superpower .
Idiom: make a mountain out of a molehill (used idiomatically: yes)
Long strands of snot were hanging from her nose . George shuddered . Trust a woman to make a mountain out of a molehill ! Anyone would think he was going to murder her . He was completely oblivious of the Swiss army knife clutched hotly in his hand , which caught the moonlight as he steered the car and drew Louise 's eyes like a magnet .
Idiom: strike a chord (used idiomatically: yes)
In the light of this , it is not surprising that upper - class Indian mimicry of the British lifestyle — the clubs and golf courses , the social etiquette and refinement — now appear incongruous to the point of schizophrenia . Naipaul goes to Bombay , Delhi , Benares , Kashmir , Calcutta , Madras ; he makes a pilgrimage in the Himalayas ; and finally visits his grandfather 's village in eastern Uttar Pradesh . But throughout his travels little strikes a chord with his own diminished Indian - ness . Only his sense of caste remains — it 's ‘ in the blood’— and his personal detachment , stemming , perhaps , from the more general Indian pessimism . This first trip to India affected Naipaul profoundly .
Idiom: do me a favour (used idiomatically: yes)
We 've been a bit lucky because , although our ball is in high rough — and I mean high ; it was up to Greg 's knees — we 've caught a good lie , so he can hit a pitching - wedge back on to the fairway . He knocked it on to the fairway , hit his third shot on to the green and then two - putted for par . As we were walking to the next hole I tried to think of the right things to say to him , so I said , ‘ Greg , do me a favour . You 're playing too fast right now . You 're real nervous and you need to slow down a little .
Idiom: long in the tooth (used idiomatically: yes)
A The cause of your problem is firstly that WordPerfect 5.1 does n't fit well with Windows 3.1 — to be honest it 's a bit primitive . Your printer is a bit long in the tooth but , as you say , treated as an FX80 it works well with other Windows applications . WordPerfect 5.1 does n't recognise TrueType fonts and does n't work well with Adobe Type Manager . An FX80 compatible printer can not use softfonts — these are supported mainly by laser printers — and so there is no point in trying it .
Idiom: tell it like it is (used idiomatically: yes)
Books which present a fair account of corruption have a defence denied to glossy propaganda . In deciding whether material depraves and corrupts , the jury must lift its eyes from mere details and consider the tone and overall presentation . Does the material glamorise sex , or does it " tell it like it is " ? The target audience An article is only obscene if it is likely to corrupt " persons who are likely , having regard to all relevant circumstances , to read , see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it . "
Idiom: on the run (used idiomatically: yes)
Prairie - bound . The possible re - establishment of the black - footed ferret is good news for everyone except prairie dogs . The penultimate saga of the Entebbe Four ( ‘ Chimpanzees on the run’ , October ) is that they have been repatriated from Hungary to Uganda , where they are waiting in Entebbe Zoo to move to a semi - wild setting in their native land , courtesy of the Jane Goodall Institute . BBC WILDLIFE MAGAZINE AWARDS FOR NATURE WRITING We present the eleventh in a series of essays by winners and runners - up in the 1991 competition .
Idiom: sleight of hand (used idiomatically: yes)
This could be continued down corners to the skirting and around doors . Draw the stripes lightly in pencil first and take great care to get them precise . Create impressive graphic designs on your walls ; all it takes is courage and a little sleight of hand . If not graphics , then try free - flowing bands of colour in varying shapes . Sometimes the shape of a bedhead or a mirror or storage unit can be echoed over the object proper in 1920 's or 1930 's style and then exaggerated with a contrasting edge of another colour .
Idiom: in the saddle (used idiomatically: no)
' You look distinctly hung - over , my lovely . ' ' Then fresh air and exercise is the best thing for it . I 'll know when I ca n't sit in the blasted saddle . ' ' I 'll follow behind with the stretcher ! ' said Pringle drily . ' Happy New Year ! ' said Miss Needham tartly by way of response and rode away .
Idiom: go from strength to strength (used idiomatically: yes)
In his youth , he was already accustomed to leading champion Clydesdales to the winning of the highest awards . In 1895 , when James Kilpatrick was 31 years of age , his uncle died and James took over the stud . Under his ownership , Craigie Mains went from strength to strength and soon he became the most prolific prize - winning owner the Clydesdale Society has known . Clydesdale horses were popular throughout the world and where they were known , the name of Craigie Mains was respected . William Dunlop of Dunure Mains was also of Ayrshire farming stock .
Idiom: to the letter (used idiomatically: yes)
' I wrote immediately , ' she says , ' and a few days later I was sent a complaints form to fill in and return . ' Susan , a part - time school cook , then had to put on a brave face for a holiday in Spain with her children Emma , 10 and Jonathon , 13 . She returned to a letter from the salon 's head office inviting her to see one of their hair technicians free of charge . The chain 's director , himself an experienced hairdresser , was going to come to the salon to put things right . ' He said my hair had been badly cut , ' says Susan .
Idiom: catch fire (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Do we have any further evidence?’ ‘ Nothing,’ Benjamin replied quickly . ‘ One man dies in his bed which mysteriously catches fire . Another is killed by a crossbow bolt but the only door is bolted and the windows shuttered . We have established the assassin had been tramping round in the snow , yet Lady Beatrice and Rachel are wearing the same clothes as they were this morning and , as far as I know , never left the house.’
Idiom: follow suit (used idiomatically: yes)
Nevertheless , it may be enough to keep the markets jittery about the country 's economic prospects . The Chancellor 's decision to take base interest rates to 15 per cent was followed this week by mortgage rate rises from the Halifax and Abbey National building societies to 14.5 per cent . Others are expected to follow suit next week and some may go for even higher rates for their borrowers . Fears of mortgage defaults are adding pressure to an already depressed property market , while reports of industry feeling the squeeze proliferated . A growing number of capital projects must now be in jeopardy .
Idiom: do the trick (used idiomatically: yes)
Nigeria 's population will reach 532 million in the middle of the next century ; Ethiopia 's population will quintuple . My God , the reader gasps , not five times as many Ethiopians ! If all that money we gave to Band Aid did n't do the trick , it must be because there are just too many of them . The problem with doom - laden statistical predictions like these is that they draw attention away from the reasons why so many perfectly sensible people are choosing to have large families . If we genuinely want to participate in the population debates , as opposed simply to joining the chop - off - their - willies brigade of population controllers , then we must try to understand those reasons .