Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: have an eye for (used idiomatically: yes)
What does change is the choice of songs and the balance of styles . It is proof enough that Tom Jones is not going to take the easy path that most of his generation would choose . And it makes you realise that , though he may be famous for having an eye for the ladies , he also has an ear for a good song . Royals to part ‘ within weeks’ A FORMAL statement on the breakdown of the marriage between the Prince and Princess of Wales is expected within weeks , it is claimed today .
Idiom: on the nose (used idiomatically: yes)
The defendants were spotted walking back home by police a short while later . Wilkins began struggling with a constable and pushed him into a bush . The officer suffered grazing on his nose and face . Meanwhile Parratt had to be restrained on the ground . On Monday Wilkins , who lives in Alton Road , and Parratt , of Babsfield , both appeared before Alton magistrates .
Idiom: hot air (used idiomatically: yes)
Do you feel you need a bit of excitement in your life ? Then go out and find it ! Perhaps you have always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon , appear on stage in a local amateur production or jump from a higher board at the swimming pool — well , how about it ? If you really feel that there is no opportunity in your life for you to do any of the things mentioned ( or anything else which appeals to you ) , try using your imagination . Recall pleasant experiences from the past — not with regret but with pleasure .
Idiom: break even (used idiomatically: yes)
I certainly do not believe that we can win anything by a formal arrangement with the Liberal Democratic Party . The Liberals are the real declining force in British politics . While Labour increased both its percentage of the vote and its Members of Parliament , the Liberal share of votes declined and it broke even on the ratio of seats lost and gained and because of its dubious victory in Cheltenham . If the Liberals had increased their vote by the same percentage as Labour , Neil Kinnock would sleep tonight in Downing Street . If they had polled the same plurality as they commanded in 1987 , there would have been no overall party majority .
Idiom: draw a blank (used idiomatically: yes)
Theories that attempt to unite Nature 's forces within one framework suggest that monopoles should have been produced in the early stages of the Universe : and just over a year ago Blas Cabrera , a researcher at Stanford University , thought he might have found one ( New Scientist . vol 94 , p 336 ) . But other experiments continue to draw blanks , as two recent papers in Physical Review Letters report . And three physicists writing in Nature show that monopoles are not the answer to a long - standing problem of solar physics — that of the ' missing ' solar neutrinos . According to the grand unified theories that link together electromagnetism with the weak and strong nuclear forces , monopoles are very heavy , with masses around 10 16 gaelectron - volts ( GeV ) .
Idiom: have words (used idiomatically: yes)
Groups like Microdisney and Danny Wilson , who try to use MOR in order to get their messages over to as many people as possible , are doubly misguided . How can words stir anyone to action or even reflection if the accompanying music fails to quicken the pulse ? And is n't it the case that real MOR — the stuff that sells , boys — has words that are anodyne too , that reinforce commonsense views of normality and ( human ) nature ? More than any other group I can think of , Microdisney are victims of rock 's over - privileging of the text . The words , and the need to get those words within earshot of the maximum number of people , have subordinated the music to the level of glossy paper — designed to interfere with clear transmission and reception of the message as little as possible .
Idiom: tongue in cheek (used idiomatically: yes)
More especially , I wondered at their risk when I learnt that some of them had landed across the Channel and were astonished to find that the natives did not speak English . In fact they did not speak French either , they spoke a sort of fractured German . But this was a great feeling of what we had been used to over the years in watching American movies and , with our tongue in cheek and a bit of a giggle , seeing the adventures of the cavalry arriving , And for the first time in our years of combat I had a glow , a rosy glow , inside me and I knew and was certain for the very first time now we could not be beaten . It was a feeling that I never had until that nice little man with a funny hat and a big gun got out of a strange aeroplane and asked me : " Do you speak English ? " 13 A Question of Morale and Moral Fibre
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ That 's something to look forward to.’ When they reached the Watermen , Mary and Ruth would n't let Ernest into the kitchen , but made him wait in the bar . They had been working all the evening , sewing Rosie 's wedding - dress , and it would be terribly unlucky if the bridegroom set eyes on it before the great day . They had bought a paper pattern , and followed the instructions carefully ; it would be the most beautiful dress ever seen . Night after night they sat in the kitchen , adding frills of lace and clusters of tiny artificial pearls .
Idiom: off the shelf (used idiomatically: yes)
But Chris Greenwood , the principal research engineer , said : ‘ We 've got a transmission capable of working on a wide range of vehicles , including Formula 1 cars , tanks , buses , delivery trucks , earth moving machinery and off - road transport of all types . CVTs save fuel , especially in the urban cycle.’ At the moment Leyland does not see huge off - the - shelf sales for the transmission . The short - term view is that CVT will make the firm 's buses more competitive . The Department of Industry contributed to the cost of developing a prototype , between £ 600 000 and £ 700 000 .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
It aims to root out all the ' impurities ' of ' soft ' , ' pretentious'post - punk rock — artiness , ' weird ' , spacey lyrics , a studio - dependent electronic sound , a flirtation with sexually ambiguous imagery . All these ' taints ' have been boiled away in the good old - fashioned aggro of Oi . On the face of it , Oi is performing a similar function to early punk — taking rock back to the basics , grafting a class accent on to the music , reviving the original rebel - delinquent cluster — the myth of Elvis - as - hub - cap - thief , a poor white loser up against the Law . The desperate image of both skins and punks has helped to create the impression that these subcultures are completely untouched by ' commercial ' influences . And yet the popular music Press plays a key role in shaping new styles and sounds .
Idiom: make a meal of (used idiomatically: no)
FIERY Paul Stewart saw red here last night as Liverpool ran into a Cup - Winners Cup storm . Stewart was sent off 18 minutes from the end of a niggly clash for foolishly slapping Apollon keeper Michalis Christophi across the head as he picked himself up from an innocent penalty - area collision . Stewart could argue that it was little more than a playful cuff and Christophi certainly made a real meal of it by falling dramatically to the ground clutching his face . A linesman called over referee Loris Stasoggia — and the Italian official had little choice but to dismiss Stewart . As he walked disconsolately away the hotheaded Cypriot crowd threw several missiles on to the running track — but fortunately none reached the Liverpool bench .
Idiom: few and far between (used idiomatically: yes)
On the other hand , he could find he had been selected to unload a valuable cargo such as palm kernels . On such a cargo he could easily make himself twenty pounds a week , plus . These cargoes were few and far between , however . Much more likely to be a timber boat . Hard work for about fourteen pounds a week .
Idiom: bells and whistles (used idiomatically: yes)
As I have already intimated , I have strong reservations about billing any application as ‘ the best’ , but this much I can say . WordStar for Windows 1.5 is a very capable and usable application that competes with its contemporaries extremely well . It has all of the facilities you need , and a few nice bells and whistles thrown in . As such , you would do yourself a major disservice if you did not consider it when next you purchase a Windows word processor , and , were you unfortunate enough to overlook it , you would doubtless kick yourself when you did finally get to see it . This might well be the word processor that puts WordStar right back on the map in the word processor stakes .
Idiom: at a snail's pace (used idiomatically: yes)
Much to Amiss 's chagrin , his eavesdropping was greatly hampered by a new cleaner , who had arrived to do a serious job on the upstairs kitchen . Amiss spent a deeply frustrating hour rushing to his post any time the cleaner left or appeared to be absorbed in his job , frequently having the conversation drowned out by the sound of a vacuum cleaner and in between having to exchange inane pleasantries . He spent as long as he could going round the Smoking Room at a snail 's pace , cleaning clean ashtrays and polishing polished tables , and when summoned once or twice to wait on other members he dragged out the process of serving them for an inordinate length of time . Nevertheless , he could pick up very little . Glastonbury was certainly upset , although that did n't stop him nodding off on several occasions ; Fagg was enraged — the term ‘ bloody fellow’ came up frequently ; Fishbane was considered ; the Commander spluttered a lot and Chatterton said very little except to draw on his memory of some committee problem that had arisen in 1964 .
Idiom: by heart (used idiomatically: yes)
Cities , countries , I mean?’ ‘ Some I do , because he 's given names and addresses , some I do n't . For the second lot , he may have another code which I do n't have or he just knows them by heart . By heart , I would guess . I have no means of knowing where at least half the accounts are .
Idiom: come to think of it (used idiomatically: yes)
It must really be business that had brought Bunny here as it was n't his sort of pub . There were no women . Come to think of it , I was n't that keen on it either , though it did serve a cracking pint of Young 's bitter . So good , I ordered a low - al lager so as not to get locked into a session . Bunny saw me and gave me a brief nod , then went back to talking to a young black dude wearing a blue trenchcoat and nursing a colour - co - ordinated Filofax .
Idiom: under the sun (used idiomatically: yes)
Unlike the BBC , which gleaned income from license money , ITV needed money from advertising , and tempting advertisers meant guaranteeing them ratings . Ergo , to get ratings it was absolutely vital that the ITV chiefs broadcast programmes geared to attract a maximum audience . Thus a careful analysis of the USA system was undertaken in the belief that no race under the sun knew how to sell products as well as Americans . The ITV policy of bringing a transatlantic style to British Television extended far beyond merely an emulation of programming . Not only did ITV want concepts , they also wanted expertise , and that determined an import drive .
Idiom: take someone to the cleaners (used idiomatically: yes)
Nothing better . Thanks , could n't remember it . But I do remember Sterland giving an interview before the final saying that he was basically taken to the cleaners by the boy . Was n't it some illness which scuppered Sharpe . Not an over - zealous celebration on his 20th ?
Idiom: close ranks (used idiomatically: yes)
Possibly this comparative scarcity of trees in the east Midland hedgerows — in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire especially — arises from consideration for fox - hunting . In Leicestershire organised fox - hunting developed during the 1770s , in time to enjoy the exhilaration of galloping over miles of unfenced country . Enclosure made things more difficult , or perhaps we should say necessitated new and exciting skills , but at least there were no close ranks of trees to make the fences impossible . Indeed , the first effect of enclosure was to reduce the number of trees in thinly wooded country , for the new fences — hundreds of miles of them — required vast quantities of oak , elm , and ash saplings for posts and rails . Clare , once more , was in no doubt about the diminution of woodland after enclosure :
Idiom: grasp the nettle (used idiomatically: yes)
But the government had taken elaborate precautions to crush any resistance . Although below the surface tension remained high in the countryside , and there were repeated rumours of an imminent ‘ real’ Emancipation , the number of disturbances tailed off . Disappointing as the terms were from the peasant point of view ‘ for the Imperial government to grasp the nettle of Emancipation at all was a remarkable departure . The step which for decades successive tsars had contemplated but abandoned in the face of noble opposition was taken at last . That a measure apparently so contrary to noble interests was carried through has encouraged the view that , in the hands of a determined tsar , the Russian State was able to ride roughshod over every class .
Idiom: by dint of (used idiomatically: yes)
Transport costs for places near London were 105 or 155 per ton , whereas the rate was 455 by rail or 30s by steamer to Edinburgh . There was no longer any need for London publishers to " send work 400 miles " . The work at present obtained in Edinburgh was only by dint of " great energy and hard work by the employers " . They were still pleading competition in 1910 , when Mr Begg for Clark 's argued that " without cheap labour , the London book trade must leave Edinburgh , owing inter alia to greater freight rates " . And Mr Blaikie of Constable 's claimed that a lot of scientific and university work had already gone elsewhere . "
Idiom: up for grabs (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ Art lacks glamour,’ says Koons in his calm , persuasive monotone . ‘ Art lacks charisma . Art is up for grabs.’ His wife smiles at him adoringly , her mouth as red as Snow White 's . As they cross the lobby of the Langham Hilton , Mr and Mrs Koons scarcely warrant a second glance from the assembled tourists , despite Mrs Koons 's shocking pink dress , platinum - blonde coiffure and orange eyebrows .
Idiom: cut and run (used idiomatically: yes)
Root causes COUNCILLORS in Wrexham Maelor are to undertake a survey of trees in the area and draw up a firm policy on tree protection . Cut and run POLICE are investigating the theft of a lawnmower and two strimmers worth £ 700 from a shed in Park Road , Coedpoeth , Wrexham . Parking pain
Idiom: to all intents and purposes (used idiomatically: yes)
The bacterium is difficult to grow and it may be necessary to biopsy one of the lesions to come to the diagnosis . Tropical treponematoses Throughout the world there exist diseases caused by treponemes that are to all intents and purposes identical to Treponema pallidum yet which are not transmitted sexually and , in some cases , may coexist with syphilis in the community . There are many clinical features in common among these treponematoses and some of them appear to go through similar stages and periods of latency . Whether the organisms responsible are in fact identical , and it is local factors that give the difference in clinical manifestations , or whether these diseases are examples of adaptive , divergent evolution , is not yet worked out .
Idiom: wide of the mark (used idiomatically: yes)
I get to work and I can concentrate,’ Linda said . ‘ Lots of people will consider returning to work if they think they have good quality childcare.’ Nadine Dorries of Company Kids says predictions five years ago that by 1992 workplace nurseries would be as common as staff canteens were wide of the mark . There are now 425 in the country , but they provide only one place for every 300 children under five years of age . ‘ Women receiving help with childcare costs from an employer are still in a minority,’ Dorries said .
Idiom: come up trumps (used idiomatically: yes)
Robin Dew equalled his personal best time of 15.4 secs . in the colts 100 metres , taking fourth place , and in the long jump he was also fourth in an excellent 4 metres 15 , the BAF standard for this event and close to his personal best . Philip Rivet , a newcomer to the track , was fifth in the colts 100 m ( 15.5 secs . ) . Conrad Allen came up trumps again , finishing fourth in the boys 800 metres in a personal best 2 mins . 22 . In the minor girls ' 800 m , Rachel Hall was third in a season 's best of 2–41.6 . Other Waverley performances :
Idiom: have an eye for (used idiomatically: yes)
So Kylie , never one to let a lesson pass unheeded , acted on it . To relieve the strain she turned to painting , a pastime she has loved since childhood . Kylie has always had an eye for composition and colour , and is particularly gifted in the art of watercolour . So , like Prince Charles and thousands of less well known amateur artists , Kylie now sits at her easel and loses herself in another world . Alone with her thoughts and with a blank canvas in front of her , she is transported far away from the rough and occasionally ruthless showbusiness industry .
Idiom: over the hill (used idiomatically: yes)
John McGuire was slightly the worse for wear after his night out with his wife . Nothing moved in the entire length of Westmuir Street . Beardmore 's loomed like a sleeping giant over the hill , and down towards Shettleston Road a break in the clouds painted a fleeting blue on the topmost windows of the tenements . A cloud of steam crawled slowly upwards from the chimney of Wellshot Baths . They were cleaning the steamie .
Idiom: on the game (used idiomatically: yes)
Subject : More anti BBC … I only watched the first 10mins of the FA cup game yesterday … funny how no mention was made of Pallisters hand ball in the box … or dick head schmeichal pushing Kamara in the face . What was even ‘ funnier ’ was when I went into the car i thought Id switch it to radio 5 , to see how they could manage to report on a different game as usual . Sure enough old Alan green was there , quite obviously watching a different match to that Id been watching just minutes earlier . It made me really sick that I had nt listened to the Liverpool Scum match 2 years ago on the radio — instead of watching it on the box .
Idiom: think the world of (used idiomatically: no)
It is different to other poems on similar subjects , such as ‘ The Whitsun Weddings ’ by Philip Larkin , which describes the outward view of people and places rather than the opposite , inward view which is isolated from much of the outside environment like ‘ the unknown self-possession of ships on ocean . ’ I believe the ‘ Express ’ to be a poem of great beauty and I find it tender although strange in approach . Although I do not wholeheartedly agree with the view the author takes of the mechanical world of the train being somehow better than that of nature , I can still find it interesting and thought inducing from a philosophical angle . Who can say whether the spirit of nature does possess a beauty or an importance greater than the purely physical or rather mechanical objects ? It is a poem which , although at first in its language and meaning I admittedly find a little daunting , I enjoyed pondering over very much and genuinely hope to read more by the same , as yet , anonymous author .
Idiom: in the long term (used idiomatically: no)
Adding up everyone 's several sources of income and grouping it into a household income , related to where people live and the local rate , is a major exercise that our present income tax system is incapable of doing . The introduction of a local income tax therefore requires a major reform to income tax and one that points in the opposite direction to the recent individualisation of tax — with separate assessment for husbands and wives . Some move towards a local income tax remains the policy of the Liberal Democrats and would be feasible in the long term . The centralist and the localist cases The centralist case
Idiom: off the wall (used idiomatically: yes)
Avoiding too many humans , if you can . ' It was raining softly and , because it was early evening , lights were coming on around the airport . Absolutely no one heard the faint tinkle as a little ventilation grille dropped off an outside wall . Three blurred shapes lowered themselves down on to the concrete and sped away . Towards the planes .
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: yes)
Broadstairs would , however , solve everything , she told herself . Samuel Pipkin was tensing himself for the coming life and death struggle this evening , when the vital decision would be made by the Prince of Wales , and Mr Thackeray would be avenged . Even Lord Beddington was on edge , hands clasped round the duck 's - head handle of his walking stick . He did n't sleep a wink during the journey . He had a notion something damned odd was going to happen at Broadstairs .
Idiom: on board (used idiomatically: yes)
I suggest that they take an extended lunch and return mid - afternoon . On board ‘ Jack’ ( ) , is on board ship controlling the overhead conveyor . The hold is filling up . We all get along well , but when the pressure 's on the air can turn pretty red in here .
Idiom: sit on the fence (used idiomatically: no)
VENUS BEADS ' Transfixed'(Emergo ) This is so abrasive that it 'll damn near cut you in two . Far too tuneful to be described as hardcore and too noisy to be deemed a pop / punk band , The Venus Beads sit comfortably on the barbed wire fence in between . Produced by ex - House Of Love guitarist Terry Bickers — spot the guitar intro on ' Wolf On A Chain ' —'Transfixed ' is a big step on from their great but claustrophobic ' Heartless 'single earlier in the year . Of the four songs on offer , ' Cold Inferno ' just about has the edge with Rob 's intimidating vocal snarling the ' Question all that you 've been told'refrain .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: no)
Nobody knows what vision of collective defense is to be implemented : one needs a fertile imagination to imagine Belarusian paratroopers defending the Tajik border . Moreover , the constitutions of a number of CSTO countries expressly prohibit sending troops outside national territory . But the Kremlin 's myopic concentration on military matters , and its pointless attempts to play a zero - sum game with the West has turned Russia into an object for manipulation by its junior partners . The virtuoso of such manipulation is Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko . Belarus 's economy can function only if Russia subsidizes energy prices and allocates non - repayable credits .
Idiom: get off the ground (used idiomatically: yes)
He has bought the rights to a steamy book by Darling Buds Of May author H. E. Bates and plans to turn it into a TV movie starring his wife . She will play a bored wife who scandalises her village in the 1920s by having a passionate love affair with a young pianist . ‘ Twigs and I have formed a little company called Mask to get several projects off the ground , ’ Leigh says . ‘ The H. E. Bates book is called Sleepless Moon and it 's in development at the moment so I ca n't say too much about it . ’ Both Twiggy and Leigh are in demand in Hollywood .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: yes)
The “ main stream ” of China ’s economy is the vast flow of inward investment . China ’s economy is prone to rapid growth , with buoyant investment demand sustaining powerful short - term inflationary pressures . As a result , credit controls on investment projects and a close watch on the money supply have been used to promote macroeconomic stability since China began its market reforms . But in 2003 , following five years of deflation , China ’s economy entered a new phase . Overcapacity vanished , constraints on consumption were lifted , and a dramatic increase in household demand followed .