Gooogr/pie_idioms huggingface dataset:
Idiom: left and right (used idiomatically: yes)
In investigations of cerebral asymmetry , therefore , electrode leads from various positions over left and right hemispheres are often linked to a common reference site at which underlying activity is unlikely to be affected by variables manipulated in the experiment . Provided that the reference position is suitably chosen , this means that differences in potential between the common reference and each of the corresponding left and right hemisphere sites will be equal unless there is some asymmetry in activity between left and right hemispheres . If so"it shows up as a difference in the wave forms obtained from one or more of the left and right hemisphere leads . It is thus crucial to choose a common reference position that avoids any initial bias in potential difference between each of the hemisphere leads and the common reference . The electrical wave forms recorded from the scalp can be broadly classified into two types .
Idiom: hold the line (used idiomatically: yes)
A lot of people suspect that blocking savers ' access to their money violates the new constitution 's explicit ban on compulsory loans to the government . Mr Collor seems to fear so ; at least , he has produced legislation preventing judges from granting interim injunctions to allow depositors access to their money . This looks even more unconstitutional — but while the lawyers debate that question , the government could be holding the monetary line . In Congress the fight could be tougher yet . An election is due in October .
Idiom: get lost (used idiomatically: yes)
Erm shh I 'll expect everyone Stop following me . Get lost Kevin why would I wanna follow you ? You 're a cheat . You need a slap d'ya know that ?
Idiom: have words (used idiomatically: yes)
' You will say nothing to Miguel ? ' he whispered . ' Nothing . You have my word . ' He deliberated a moment longer , then said : ' Es el primero de octubre . ' 2
Idiom: foot the bill (used idiomatically: yes)
However , let us consider , for instance , cranberry more carefully . Granted that a cranberry is a variety of berry , what exactly does cran -mean ? It is a curious fact that native speakers are unwilling to attempt even an approximate gloss of the meaning of cran — , yet there is no such hesitation with foot in foot the bill . Nor does cran — seem to carry any meaning into newly coined forms : we can make sense , for instance , of billy - giraffe and nanny - giraffe by analogy with billy - goat and nanny - goat , and also of foot the fees ; but creations like cranbeads and bilbeads convey nothing , although one might have expected some interpretation such as ‘ small round red beads’ and ‘ small round purple beads’ . The fact is that elements like cran — and bil — do not carry any meaning at all , in the normal sense — they merely distinguish ; they are equivalent to numbered or lettered labels : ‘ ( berry ) type A / type B / type C … ’ .
Idiom: turn someone's head (used idiomatically: yes)
The garden was quiet for a moment . Suddenly Colin said , ‘ Who 's that?’ Mary turned her head , and noticed Ben Weatherstaff 's angry face looking at her over the garden wall . ‘ What are you doing in that garden , young miss?’ he shouted . He had not seen Colin or Dickon .
Idiom: in the bag (used idiomatically: yes)
( Do remember one ice cube wo n't necessarily equal one lemon . ) The cubes can be added to soups and sauces or thawed for use in puddings and cakes . Or grate the rind onto small pieces of freezer film ; wrap tightly , then place in a polythene bag . Freeze the juice separately . Cut whole lemons into slices , open - freeze on trays , then pack into polythene bags .
Idiom: on the money (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ I spend my time in the bookies or sat at home in front of the telly . That 's my lot really . I do n't drink and do n't go out much so I manage on the money . But it drives you mad with boredom . I still miss work.’
Idiom: all over the shop (used idiomatically: yes)
I grin and bear it oh prices all over shop my nose starts pouring of blood oh so does mine
Idiom: ring a bell (used idiomatically: yes)
Turn up it did . , when a collection of pre - Kaiser war memorabilia devoted to the career of an early German Imperial Air Force flying instructor came to light . Sadly I know little of this aviator who it appears completed over 2,000 flights in Rumpler , Hansa and Etrich Taubes . To readers of this column does the name Rosenstein ring a bell ? I reproduce here this surely heroic airman garlanded after his 2,000th flight in a Taube , the reverse of the picture is inscribed ‘ Mein 2,000 flug auf Hansa - Taube in Hamburg 1913’(A ) . A companion photograph lists some of the officers and other ranks taught to fly the Taube by this intrepid airman .
Idiom: rock bottom (used idiomatically: yes)
' What do you mean , enemies ? ' ' Michael was cooking the books . He was selling Gary Druer from Travel Enterprise rooms at rock - bottom rates , and Gary was retailing them to the client for top whack , trading on our reputation . He and Michael were splitting the profits . ' ' Did he admit that ? '
Idiom: on edge (used idiomatically: yes)
Samways might have equalised three minutes later but after creating an opening for himself , he blazed over the bar . As Spurs over-extended themselves , Forest re-discovered their prowess on the counter and sealed victory . Clough touched the ball invitingly to Keane on the edge of the area , and the Irishman sent a rocket of a shot into the roof of the net . Spurs coach Doug Livermore acknowledged : ‘ Forest played the better football , and they deserved to win . They have n't had much fortune in front of goal of late , but this was their night . ’
Idiom: come to grief (used idiomatically: yes)
Rule 6 : practise structuring effective exam answers Good exam technique only comes with practice . Candidates who come to grief in exams often lack practice in structuring their thoughts into an effective exam answer . One page of well structured answer is worth ten pages of unstructured " waffle " . Rule 7 : practise writing some complete exam answers
Idiom: on the pull (used idiomatically: yes)
Moisture from the inflated covers might have gingered up the pitch somewhat for the third day , and with the ball still quite new , England 's bowlers were clearly interested in a breakthrough . Miandad extended his 59 to 88 before edging Munton to slip , giving the affable Warwickshire man his first Test wicket in a spell of 10 overs during which he took 1 for 22 , real Angus Fraser stuff . Moin , nightwatchman , was beaten for pace on the pull - shot , but no declaration came at lunch ( 480 for 5 ) , nor after a rain interruption during which 12 overs were lost , it being believed that the runs were best scored in the first innings , and England would probably have been offered the light soon after their innings commenced . Javed Miandad throws the ball to umpire David Shepherd as discussion continues following the warning to Aqib Javed for intimidatory bowling Salim Malik had played on when former Essex team - mate Gooch slipped in an inswinger , and when Malcolm bowled a second bouncer in an over to Inzamam - ul - Haq , umpire Palmer no - balled him .
Idiom: under the microscope (used idiomatically: yes)
( viii ) Add about 1 ml of fixative ( freshly prepared ) until a slightly cloudy suspension is obtained . ( ix ) Allow clumps of cells to settle to the bottom and then make a trial preparation by allowing one drop to evaporate onto a microscope slide . Examine under the phase microscope and if it is too thin , spin down again and remove some of the fixative . Resuspend . 2.3 Conventional staining
Idiom: nuts and bolts (used idiomatically: yes)
But the communicators have just as many , and their prejudices affected their accounts of the campaign . For example , they can not stand the well - off , pushy , pleased - with - themselves , Tory young . That meant that they could not stand the Central Office youths involved in the nuts and bolts of the campaign . BBC television 's reporter on the Prime Minister 's election tour , Mr John Simpson — an embodiment of the communicating class — wrote about them in the Spectator with special rage . I try to rise above such prejudices , much as the communicators rise above the prejudices of the C2s .
Idiom: in the soup (used idiomatically: yes)
Later on — days , he thought glumly — they moved into the dining room , which was an equally august and unmerciful place . The sherry in the clear soup put him out entirely . When he woke up his hair was in the soup and his head on the rim of the plate , and his hostess had left the table . ‘ We 'd better go,’ someone said . ‘ We 'll take you home.’
Idiom: play ball (used idiomatically: yes)
Defensively too Donegal were often a shambles leaving Donal Reid and Martin Shovlin to ponder if they still have a future at this level . Paul Clark back after injury contributed enormously to the Dublin effort with five points from eight frees , and Niall Guiden too played splendidly . Donegal 's insistence on playing the short ball out of defence cost them at least two points , a luxury they could never afford in a close scoring game . Tactically too Dublin were more clued in than their opponents , and their ability to get players behind the ball repeatedly denied and defied the All Ireland champions . SAILING COLUMN
Idiom: chew the fat (used idiomatically: yes)
Then you put your left hand over the glass , swirl it round two or three times in mid - air , slam the glass down hard as you can on a hard surface and drink the lot in one . The theory is that the bubbles are evenly spread throughout the drink by the slam , but after one , who the hell cares ? We were drinking out of glass tumblers with British Rail logos on and generally chewing the fat and putting the world to rights . ' Thisisgood … juice,’ slurred Carol , who was over half way to Smashed City Arizona already . ‘ Where did you say Dave was from?’
Idiom: beg the question (used idiomatically: yes)
‘ It would be unfair to criticise him,’ he adds . ‘ It 's just the nature of his guitar playing.’ But does n't three guitarists in the space of three albums beg the question that Chadwick might be just a little hard on his sidemen ? ‘ No , I do n't think so,’ Guy says . ‘ I just have very specific ideas , and I 'm quite forceful about them .
Idiom: all wet (used idiomatically: yes)
Yeah Oh we went into some of the shops they was two ninety nine . they might have one but they wears out come the winter all wet and soggy well one ninety nine . Oh that 'll keep them happy .
Idiom: marching orders (used idiomatically: yes)
Shrewsbury at home to first division Wimbledon took the lead through Shaw after thirty nine minutes , and Shrewsbury , now managed by John Bond , go through to the fifth round . Cambridge United and Middlesbrough were unable to break the deadlock in the first half of their match , but Taylor gave Cambridge the lead after sixty seven minutes and it was Taylor who made it two nil fifteen minutes from time to give Cambridge a memorable victory . Norwich City and Swindon 's tie at Carrow Road was also without goals in the first half , but Swindon 's Lorenzo was given his marching orders . Five minutes after the break , White put Swindon in front but Norwich City pulled level after sixty five minutes through Gordon . Mid way through the second half , Gittins was the second Swindon player to be sent off and against nine man Swindon , Norwich 's Mortenson gave them lead .
Idiom: come unstuck (used idiomatically: yes)
Presumably , Mr Dragonescu resisted the temptation to say that Romania and all the other allies of Moscow ‘ were making the most enormous efforts to try to break this COCOM problem’ too . In 1968 , Benn 's desire to sell Romania sophisticated jet - engines was frustrated ‘ despite the fact that Ceauşescu made a courageous speech attacking the invasion of Czechoslovakia.’ At that point , Benn had to admit , ‘ my aims to encourage further trade with Russia [ as well as Romania]and to break through this whole strategic nonsense have come unstuck.’ Along with a few other consequences , the Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia ‘ means my Russian visit is affected.’ Benn was so impressed with Ceauşescu 's Romania that he found nothing odd in the following suggestion from Bruno Pittermann , the former chairman of Kreisky 's Austrian Socialist Party : ‘ Pittermann said he would like to see parliamentary links with Romania , Poland and Yugoslavia , and to study their election process and procedure .
Idiom: set eyes on (used idiomatically: yes)
His brown curls were tousled and his cheeks were still flushed from sleep . Thank goodness you 've rescued me , she thought , yet hard on the heels of her relief came dismay . She had been determined to avoid Vitor setting eyes on the child , but now — ‘ Hello , my love,’ Ashley said , and ran forward to sweep him up into her arms and bury his head against her shoulder . ‘ I have to go,’ she told her visitor , with a speedy smile .
Idiom: on the face of it (used idiomatically: yes)
The conversation then continues in LE . Examples similar to ( 3 ) are to be found in many places in Conversation D : for example , D-3 , lines 1–3 . The effect of these personal remarks spoken in Creole is thus rather like that of the " jocular " refusals ; potentially insulting on the face of it , but in fact treated by all participants as not serious and non - threatening . Punch lines Related to the " joking " one - liners is a class of code switches called " turn - final switches " by Sebba and Wootton ( 1984 ) : less seriously we might call these " punch lines " .
Idiom: no smoke without fire (used idiomatically: yes)
Ooh who told me I think it came from Great Grandma and then told her . That 's if you were interested . Well impeachable source but I there 's no smoke without fire and everything else I 've heard I 've got to set this table . You ca n't please them , that Paul managed to get the school team and he ca n't Ha Well he said he 'd probably get on alright at Horstell that 's the irony of it was n't necessary for him to go to Winston
Idiom: hit the road (used idiomatically: yes)
The winning painting , entitled Dockside , brought a prize of Aus$15,000 for artist , David Bowers ( pictured inset , left receiving his prize from Peter Jollie ) , who judges said , had used , ‘ a contemporary idiom through a lively interplay of diverse forms and lines , to project feelings about dockside activity.’ HITTING THE ROAD AT P&O ROAD TANKS THIS MONTH Wavelength hits the road with P&O Road tanks . As well as the UK operations profiled here , the company also covers Continental Europe through H&S Transport and Flix Troll — and provides a bridge between the Uk and the Continent through P & O Tankmasters , who are specialists in demountable tanks . THERE 'S A VERY good chance , that the next soft drink to pass your lips , or the next gallon of petrol in your car , is there courtesy of P&O Roadtanks .
Idiom: jump on the bandwagon (used idiomatically: yes)
Recruitment advertisements on behalf of one licensed dealer or another used to appear every few weeks in London or the national press . The style of advertisement was both low key , and up - market . There was no attempt to jump on the bandwagon of the more flamboyant recruitment advertisements for commission paid saleswork , for example : " I 'm Martin . I 'm only 23 . I earn a 5 figure salary and have three houses .
Idiom: as a rule (used idiomatically: no)
Most discussions of power assume that the pattern of influence is always top down . Although the probabilities of success differ , most of the same power bases apply in influencing those above us . The exception is authority simply because , as a general rule , those higher in the hierarchy have more authority to control resources . Nevertheless , there is enormous potential for social power at the base of the hierarchy and much of our industrial relations experience has demonstrated the collective power of a disenchanted workforce when it decides to withdraw its labour . If the lower - level members refuse to accept and legitimize the social power of those above them , then those managers have great difficulty in carrying out sanctions and operating the organization .
Idiom: no holds barred (used idiomatically: yes)
And I got a massive round and an encore.’ Hughes had been wounded on the cutting edge of stand - up comedy . In recent years the defiantly right - on stance of the comedy circuit had been booted out by a brand of no - holds barred humour . A few weeks , sometimes only a few days after a major disaster or tragedy — Hillsborough , Piper Alpha or Zeebrugge — there 's bound to be a gag about it . But Northern Ireland has remained untouched by all but a few Irish comedians .
Idiom: no man's land (used idiomatically: no)
He smiled thinly , reflecting upon the scenery beneath . Useless and unwanted it might be , but that did not interfere with its importance . The majority of the vast Kazakhstan region was a no man 's land , but it formed a deep buffer zone between the populated areas of the North - Western USSR and the Mongolian deserts which gave way to the Chinese border . It had to be constantly and carefully monitored , for if and when Chinese aggression ever carne in earnest , that was where the tanks and the missile launchers would be concentrated . Such was Vologsky 's mission today ; to overfly the very Sino - Soviet border at Alma - Ata then cruise along the Sin - kiang border as far as the Turfan Depression taking photographic , radar and infra - red records .
Idiom: pecking order (used idiomatically: yes)
Georgia ~ Splits the Kremlin MOSCOW – Dmitry ~ Medvedev inherited the post ~ of President of the Russian ~ Federation from Vladimir ~ Putin , and while Putin moved down the pecking order to become Prime ~ Minister , speculation has abounded from the start of Medvedev ’s presidency about an eventual split between Russia ’s two highest leaders . The first days of the conflict in Georgia crushed this hypothesis . Indeed , Putin and Medvedev have worked in perfect tandem with respect to Georgia , cooperating and skillfully performing their different roles , with Putin cast in the lead role of the menacing god of a Russian reckoning , and Medvedev in the supporting role of a possible humanitarian peacemaker .
Idiom: jack of all trades (used idiomatically: yes)
Bricklayers ' labourers , for example , may by endeavour acquire some of the necessary skills to’ get by’but , without proper training or instruction in the finer points of their craft , may prove to be a liability to the industry . The growth of Youth Training Schemes and other government schemes may also prove to be short - term expedients . Operatives may be produced who are , to quote Mr Leslie Kemp , the 1983 chairman of the CITB,’ general handymen , expensively trained by the taxpayer , turning up on site and giving the services of a jack - of - all - trades and master of none’ . The CITB , which was established under the Industrial Training Act of 1964 , has a firm commitment to training in industry . The Board is funded by an annual levy on builders and sub - contractors .
Idiom: on the knocker (used idiomatically: yes)
Wexford chuckled to himself in the car . Crocker 's cautious approach to the electricity showroom , his quick sidelong glances , called to mind days long gone by when Wexford , then a sixth - form boy , had witnessed this same man as a child of ten , scuttling up to front doors playing ' Knocking Down Ginger ' . In those days the infant Crocker had run up paths lightly and gleefully to bang on a knocker or ring a bell and , elated with an enormous naughtiness , hidden behind a hedge to see the angry householder erupt and curse . There was no hedge here and Crocker was fifty . But as he entered the showroom , had he too experienced a flash of memory , a stab of nostalgia ?
Idiom: in tandem (used idiomatically: yes)
For a short time they began to lead normal , fun - loving lives . There 's little in Marshall 's CV to prepare you for the way this story , awash with sentimental pitfalls , is turned into a deeply stirring , full blooded drama . In tandem with production designer Anton Furst ( the mastermind behind Batman 's neo - gothic sets ) Marshall evokes the impersonal attitude and oppressive atmosphere that prevails in medical institutions . The idea of enclosed worlds is powerfully woven through the movie and the patients ' dilemma effectively contracted with Sayer 's own emotional development . This is a movie about the fragility of relationships and hold on normality .
Idiom: run a mile (used idiomatically: yes)
She and boyfriend Michael Hartley , 27 , of Salisbury Terrace , Darlington , were with a Greek friend , negotiating the fenced - off bridge at East End . Miss Harrison 's adopted father Godfrey Hutchinson said : ' We still do n't know exactly how it happened but we know her boyfriend leapt after her to try to help . ' The other boy ran about a mile to fetch help it 's in the countryside . Now we 're very tense , just waiting for news of Paula , ' said Mr Hutchinson . Mr Hartley , in his final year studying community arts at Newcastle , had been seeing Miss Harrison for about a year .
Idiom: out of the running (used idiomatically: yes)
The good news is that we 've got the ticket agencies on our side . They like the show and they 're going to recommend it to their clients — on one condition . ‘ That condition is that we cut ten minutes out of the running time.’ This was greeted by a ripple of protest . Malcolm Harris , who would have been the most vigorous protester , was not present , but Peter Hickton , acting on the author 's behalf , remonstrated .
Idiom: not give a fig (used idiomatically: yes)
' You have seen the poverty , Clerk . The riches of the priory , the opulence of the palace . The people there do n't give a fig . They have no sense of God . De Craon is no better but at least he gave me gold .
Idiom: go all the way (used idiomatically: no)
By gradually rendering themselves invisible , The Shamen turn the spotlight on the evidence , thus temporarily abolishing the perennial barrier that separates the performer from the punter . Mid you , The Shamen have been blurring boundaries ever since they arrived from out of nowhere , with an interesting selection of LSD tabs in one hand and well - thumbed copy of Lenin Plays Psychedelia ( sadly , now out of stock ) in the other . After flirting with paisley - patterned pop but refusing to go all the way , Will and Colin turned their attention to the politics of dancing , falling helplessly under its wily spell . Tonight , The Shamen prove themselves capable of moving even the most rigid of muscles . Flanked by two enormous screens which depict various hazy hallucinatory effects , they easy their way in gradually , seemingly unperturbed by the presence of MC Wayne , whose contribution to the evening 's entertainment can at best be described as ' minimal ' .
Idiom: hit the jackpot (used idiomatically: yes)
" You got in just in time . I 'm sorry I missed this one ! " The new dealer thought he had hit the jackpot . To celebrate his fortune to come , he invited the other dealers for a drink that night at the local pub . In the pub , beer glass in hand , he waxed lyrical about how he would spend his earnings .
Idiom: play games (used idiomatically: yes)
There 's music throughout starting with Diana Ross . Three four for spot the singer . Stevie Wonder that was and Up Tight and er we 've got the eight contestants for the competition so we 'll play the game now . Good afternoon Dennis . Did you hear the singer last week ?
Idiom: take the mickey (used idiomatically: yes)
WRONG ! ! Being thoroughly miserable is what people like MOST about being ill ! Also , if you catch the doc in a bad mood and he or she hears you taking the mickey , there are lots of particularly nasty cures which can be prescribed , such as : Boil on the neck — AMPUTATION ! Wart on the elbow — AMPUTATION ! !
Idiom: once in a while (used idiomatically: yes)
They start drinking mineral water . ‘ Oh , I may still have a black dog in me,’ he says . ‘ He barks once in a while . Everybody 's got a black dog in them . But I manage to keep him corralled.’